diff --git a/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/number_sorting.py b/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/number_sorting.py
index cf572668..d6e46437 100644
--- a/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/number_sorting.py
+++ b/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/number_sorting.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 from random import Random
 from typing import Any, Optional
 
+import numpy as np
+
 from ..coaching import BaseCurriculum, RangeAttributeDefinition
 from ..factory import ProceduralDataset, register_dataset
 
@@ -44,12 +46,6 @@ Please follow the instruction below:
 ## 2. Convert all numbers in the square brackets as strings. For example, ['-69', '-13', '1', '7', '11', '43', '59', '61']
 """
 
-    def _format_number(self, num: float, decimals: int) -> str:
-        """Format number with specified decimal places"""
-        formatted = f"{num:.{decimals}f}"
-        # Reparse to ensure exact decimal representation
-        return f"{float(formatted):.{decimals}f}"
-
     def _generate_numbers(self, rng: Random, count: int) -> tuple[list[float], list[str]]:
         """Generate list of numbers and their string representations"""
         numbers = []
@@ -58,11 +54,9 @@ Please follow the instruction below:
         for _ in range(count):
             num = rng.uniform(self.config.min_value, self.config.max_value)
             decimals = rng.randint(self.config.min_decimals, self.config.max_decimals)
-            num_str = self._format_number(num, decimals)
-            # Reparse to ensure exact value
-            num = float(num_str)
+            num = np.round(num, decimals)
             numbers.append(num)
-            number_strs.append(num_str)
+            number_strs.append(str(num))
 
         return numbers, number_strs
 
@@ -78,9 +72,8 @@ Please follow the instruction below:
         desc_numbers = sorted(numbers, reverse=True)
 
         # Format answers as string lists
-        decimals = len(number_strs[0].split(".")[-1]) if "." in number_strs[0] else 0
-        asc_answer = [self._format_number(n, decimals) for n in asc_numbers]
-        desc_answer = [self._format_number(n, decimals) for n in desc_numbers]
+        asc_answer = [str(n) for n in asc_numbers]
+        desc_answer = [str(n) for n in desc_numbers]
 
         # Randomly choose ascending or descending
         is_ascending = rng.choice([True, False])
@@ -158,7 +151,7 @@ Please follow the instruction below:
                 return 0.0
 
             # Check if the values are close enough (allowing for small rounding differences)
-            tolerance = 0.1  # Increased tolerance to handle decimal differences
+            tolerance = 1  # Increased tolerance to handle decimal differences
             for i in range(len(user_floats)):
                 if abs(user_floats[i] - expected_floats[i]) > tolerance:
                     return 0.0
diff --git a/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/spell_backward.py b/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/spell_backward.py
index a73acce6..0de8d5f2 100644
--- a/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/spell_backward.py
+++ b/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/spell_backward.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class SpellBackwardDataset(ProceduralDataset):
                 expected_answer = expected_answer.lower()
                 answer = answer.lower()
                 if expected_answer == answer:
-                    reward = 1.0
+                    return 1.0
                 else:
                     answer_len = len(expected_answer)
                     for i in range(len(expected_answer)):
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ class SpellBackwardDataset(ProceduralDataset):
                                 continue
                         else:
                             break
-
+                    if reward == 1.0:
+                        reward -= 0.2
             except:
                 reward = 0.0
         return reward
diff --git a/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/word_sorting.py b/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/word_sorting.py
index 1fc20e28..0e72d20b 100644
--- a/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/word_sorting.py
+++ b/reasoning_gym/algorithmic/word_sorting.py
@@ -125,14 +125,25 @@ class WordSortingDataset(ProceduralDataset):
 
     def score_answer(self, answer: Optional[str], entry: dict[str, Any]) -> float:
         oracle_answer = entry["metadata"]["sorted_words"]
-        if answer is not None and len(answer) > 0:
-            parsed_answer = [word.strip() for word in re.split(r",\s*", answer)]
-            if parsed_answer == oracle_answer:
-                return 1.0
-            elif sorted(parsed_answer) == oracle_answer:
-                return 0.2
 
-        return 0.0
+        if not answer:
+            return 0.0
+
+        parsed_answer = [word.strip() for word in re.split(r",\s*", answer)]
+
+        if parsed_answer == oracle_answer:
+            return 1.0
+
+        correct_positions = sum(
+            1 for i, word in enumerate(parsed_answer) if i < len(oracle_answer) and word == oracle_answer[i]
+        )
+
+        partial_score = correct_positions / len(oracle_answer)
+
+        if sorted(parsed_answer) == sorted(oracle_answer):
+            partial_score = max(partial_score, 0.2)
+
+        return partial_score
 
 
 class WordSortingCurriculum(BaseCurriculum):