A receiver in a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) system is configured to perform a method for generating channel quality feedback information. The method includes receiving, from a MIMO transmitter, pilot signals in each MIMO layer. The method also includes estimating the MIMO channel using the received pilot signals and performing a QR decomposition of the estimated MIMO channel. The method further includes predicting a probability of error for each MIMO layer after the QR decomposition of the estimated MIMO channel. The method still further includes determining a corresponding signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for each MIMO layer based on the probability of error for the each MIMO layer.