Power adjustment in the user equipment (UE) includes adjusting the transmission power level for each of multiple transport blocks based on the spectral efficiency associated with the transport block. The UE receives a scheduled transport format parameter for each of multiple transport blocks to be transmitted. Based on those scheduled transport format parameters, the UE determines a transmit power level adjustment for each transport block. The UE will adjust the power according to the determined transmit power level adjustment and transmit each transport block using the adjusted power level.