We use percentages as a guide for roughly what portion of an athletes 1 REP MAX (RM) they should be lifting. Our programs provide test and re-test weeks as a means to gauge progress over a period of time, however those lifts do not always correspond to the percentage work during training. For example, test week may call for you to find a 3RM Back Squat. During training, we ask you to perform 5×3 @ 80%. That 80% is of your most recent (and doable) 1RM, not the 3RM in test week. If you’re unsure of your 1RM, always be conservative and undershoot your capacity and focus on moving perfectly and with speed.