As an example, I see two ways that an RPE 8 pause squat can be measured. 1. Two reps left in the tank that you could get the weight up.
2. Two reps left in the tank where you could maintain total tightness where you experience no form breakdown in your core, meaning the bar speed up to the top is potentially still quite fast on the last rep. Would I be assuming right that we measure variations like this with 2?
I’m not aware of anyone using the second way for measuring RPE, though one could make an exertion scale using really any proxies they want.
We often RPE in the first way, as a proxy for repetitions in reserve.