diff --git a/reasoning_gym/arithmetic/basic_arithmetic.py b/reasoning_gym/arithmetic/basic_arithmetic.py
index bab95b63..a65ea295 100644
--- a/reasoning_gym/arithmetic/basic_arithmetic.py
+++ b/reasoning_gym/arithmetic/basic_arithmetic.py
@@ -223,14 +223,19 @@ class BasicArithmeticDataset(ProceduralDataset):
         return expression, result
 
     def _format_question(self, rng: Random, expression: str) -> str:
-        """Format the expression according to config style"""
-        base_question = "Return only the answer to the following question: {question} ="
+        """Format the expression with clear answer positioning"""
+        answer_instruction = "Put your final answer after '=' without additional text."
+        
         if self.config.format_style == "simple":
-            return base_question.format(question=expression)
+            return f"Calculate {expression} ="
         else:
-            templates = ["What is {0}?", "Calculate {0}", "Solve {0}", "Evaluate the expression: {0}"]
-            question = rng.choice(templates).format(expression)
-            return base_question.format(question=question)
+            templates = [
+                "What is {0}? =",
+                "Solve {0} and write answer after =",
+                "Compute {0} =",
+                "Evaluate: {0} ="
+            ]
+            return rng.choice(templates).format(expression) + f" {answer_instruction}"
 
 
 # Register the dataset