Big difference between 5RM and 5x5 across

[tongzilla]

Does a big difference between what an athlete can do with his 5RM and 5x5 across (best effort) indicate that he is not ready to be an intermediate?

From your experience Mark, how does the percentage of 5RM with 5x5 vary for different levels of athletes?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The difference between 5RM and 5x5 workset weight increases with experience and the ability to produce a maximal performance at 5RM. Novices will be able to do their new 5RM for 2 or 3 more sets when they first start training, and as they become more adapted a 5RM becomes a better indicator of their actual RM ability, and thus a bigger number than weights that can be done for 5 sets across.