A system and method are provided for generating bit log likelihood ratio (LLR) values for two-layered Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (QPSK) turbo decoding in a wireless communications user terminal (UT). The method includes receiving a two-layered QPSK signal with an energy ratio that is unknown, but typically defined as either k1.sup.2 or k2.sup.2. The method selects a mismatched energy ratio (k.sup.2) between k1.sup.2 and k2.sup.2, and generating bit LLR values for two-layered QPSK turbo decoding, using the mismatched k.sup.2 energy ratio. For example, if the received two-layered QPSK signal is known to have an energy ratio of about 4 or about 6.25. Then, k.sup.2 is selected to be about 5.0625. Alternately stated, the mismatched k.sup.2 energy ratio in selected by determining the approximate midpoint between k1.sup.2 and k2.sup.2.