aiqbench analysis
This research addresses the exploration challenges inherent in Large Language Model action spaces by introducing Instruction-Conditioned Exploration (ICE) paired with an Asymmetric Reinforcement Learning and Self-Distillation objective. The method successfully enhances mathematical reasoning performance on Qwen3-1.7B, demonstrating that leveraging pre-trained knowledge to generate diverse training experiences yields measurable gains over standard RL approaches like DAPO.
Instruction-Conditioned Exploration with Asymmetric Reinforcement Learning and Self-Distillation
arXiv:2608.02087v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Post-training Large Language Models (LLMs) with Reinforcement Learning (RL) has become an important tool for improving model capabilities, but the LLM action-space structure introduces challenges distinct from classical RL, with implications for inducing exploration. New methods are required that leverage the broad knowledge and flexibility of pre-trained LLMs to deliberately generate diverse experience at training time. We propose Instruction-Conditioned Exploration (ICE), which supplements task prompts during training with one of several distinct instructions, increasing the coverage of behaviours attempted. To facilitate ICE, we propose Asymmetric-RL/SD, a combined Reinforcement Learning and Self-Distillation training objective, to transfer explored behaviours to the unconditioned test-time policy. ICE with the Asymmetric-RL/SD objective improves Qwen3-1.7B held-out pass@1 performance at $4$K response length on mathematical reasoning tasks by $5.0\%$ relative to training with DAPO, with improvement persisting at a longer 8K context.
Abstract:Post-training Large Language Models (LLMs) with Reinforcement Learning (RL) has become an important tool for improving model capabilities, but the LLM action-space structure introduces challenges distinct from classical RL, with implications for inducing exploration. New methods are required that leverage the broad knowledge and flexibility of pre-trained LLMs to deliberately generate diverse experience at training time. We propose Instruction-Conditioned Exploration (ICE), which supplements task prompts during training with one of several distinct instructions, increasing the coverage of behaviours attempted. To facilitate ICE, we propose Asymmetric-RL/SD, a combined Reinforcement Learning and Self-Distillation training objective, to transfer explored behaviours to the unconditioned test-time policy. ICE with the Asymmetric-RL/SD objective improves Qwen3-1.7B held-out pass@1 performance at $4$K response length on mathematical reasoning tasks by $5.0\%$ relative to training with DAPO, with improvement persisting at a longer 8K context.
Submitted to ACL Rolling Review (ARR) May 2026 cycle. OpenReview submission record at this https URL
Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI); Computation and Language (cs.CL); Machine Learning (cs.LG)
arXiv:2608.02087 [cs.AI]
(or arXiv:2608.02087v1 [cs.AI] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2608.02087 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
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Full text under the publisher's open licence · 252 words
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