It isn't clear what your current setup is. I don't know what you mean by
"compares it against columns in another table". This sounds a bit like a
spreadsheet.

You might want to look at the Employee Evaluations sample at
http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/OtherLibraries.asp#Hookom,Duane. This
solution is quite flexible and normalized.

I would build a query that looks up the values on your form that you want to
compare.  Use the "<", ">", and "=" to filter the values returned.  Then link
your field to that query.  Here is the formula I used.  
<=(DLookUp("Mec","ApplicantTbl","SSN=[Forms]![ApplicantMainOuterForm]![ApplicantMainForm]![SSN]"))
This looks up the the Mec score in the applicant table, using the unique Id
of the Social Security Number of the person selected in my form.  I can send
you a sample if you want.  I will have to clear it of socials and names.  
afknoxvillerecruiter@yahoo.com