diff --git a/reasoning_gym/dataset.py b/reasoning_gym/dataset.py
index 78ab7fc2..7c929454 100644
--- a/reasoning_gym/dataset.py
+++ b/reasoning_gym/dataset.py
@@ -53,9 +53,10 @@ class ProceduralDataset(ABC, Sized, Iterable[Dict[str, Any]]):
 
     def score_answer(self, answer: Optional[str], entry: Dict[str, any]) -> float:
         """Overwrite this method in derived classes if a single oracle answer is not available."""
-        oracle_answer = entry["answer"]
+        oracle_answer = entry["answer"].strip()
         reward = 0.0
         if answer is not None and len(answer) > 0:
+            answer = answer.strip()
             if answer == oracle_answer:
                 reward = 1.0
             elif oracle_answer in answer: