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RPE effort guide
How hard was that set? Use reps in reserve to give your strength training effort a useful, consistent rating.
About 2 reps left
Two more good-form reps remained; challenging but controlled.
Strength-set effort at a glance
| RPE | Reps in reserve | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0 reps left | Maximum effort; another good rep was not possible. |
| 9 | About 1 rep left | One more good-form rep remained; another was unlikely. |
| 8 | About 2 reps left | Two more good-form reps remained; challenging but controlled. |
| 7 | About 3 reps left | Moderate effort with several good-form reps remaining. |
| 6 | 4+ reps left | Easy working set; speed and technique stayed strong. |
| 5 | 5+ reps left | Very easy warm-up, recovery, or technique work. |
| 1–4 | Very low effort | Recovery, warm-ups, and very easy effort; valid low-effort ratings, not typical hard working-set targets. |
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Rate the set you actually completed.
RPE means rating of perceived exertion. For strength sets, think about how many more repetitions you could have completed with good form.
You completed 8 reps and believe you could have completed 2 more with good form. Log RPE 8.
Is RPE the same as a percentage of 1RM?
No. The number of repetitions, fatigue, exercise, and your experience all affect how a weight feels. This guide describes effort; it does not turn an RPE rating into an exact percentage or prescribe a load.
Where will you keep your training record?
Effort ratings become more useful when you can look back over time. Compare workout apps, including free access and what stays with you.
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