Those tables are pretty clear on what novice, intermediate, advanced, and elite mean, and pretty accurate for full lifts without gear. Between Pendlay, Rippetoe, and Kilgore, I would imagine they have a pretty decent handle on what constitutes what for the different categories.
Untrained
Expected level of strength in a healthy individual who has not trained on the exercise before but can perform it correctly. This represents the minimum level of strength required to maintain a reasonable quality of life in a sedentary individual.
Novice
A person training regularly for a period of 3-9 months. This strength level supports the demands of vigorous recreational activities.
Intermediate
A person who has engaged in regular training for up to two years. The intermediate level indicates some degree of specialization in the exercises and a high level of performance at the recreational level.
Advanced
An individual with multi-year training experience with definite goals in the higher levels of competitive athletics.
Elite
Refers specifically to athletes competing in strength sports. Approximately 2% of the weight training population will attain this level.
Submaximum loads may be used to estimate one rep maximum values using the One Rep Max Calculator.
Tables for the basic barbell exercises were developed from:
o definitions in "Practical Programming" by Kilgore, Rippetoe, and Pendlay
o the experience and judgment of the authors,
o the exercise techniques described and illustrated in “Starting Strength” by Rippetoe and Kilgore, and
o published performance standards for the sports of powerlifting and weightlifting.
