The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale is a method of assessing the amount of exertion for a particular lifting exercise. The scale runs from zero to 10.A zero means that you are not exerting any effort. A 10 is very, very heavy and very hard.Occasionally, test yourself by doing a set for five to eight reps where you hit a 9 on the scale. A 9 is a set where you have one rep potentially left in the tank.Once you do your scale 9, then do working sets with less reps and the same weight where the scale 9 was hit. For …