diff --git a/src/open_r1/rewards.py b/src/open_r1/rewards.py
index bec3d11c..96f66e5c 100644
--- a/src/open_r1/rewards.py
+++ b/src/open_r1/rewards.py
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ def accuracy_reward(completions, solution, **kwargs):
 
 def format_reward(completions, **kwargs):
     """Reward function that checks if the completion has a specific format."""
-    pattern = r"^<think>.*?</think>\s*<answer>.*?</answer>$"
+    pattern = re.compile(r"^<think>.*?</think>\s*<answer>.*?</answer>$", re.DOTALL | re.MULTILINE)
     completion_contents = [completion[0]["content"] for completion in completions]
-    matches = [re.match(pattern, content, re.DOTALL | re.MULTILINE) for content in completion_contents]
+    matches = [pattern.match(content) for content in completion_contents]
     return [1.0 if match else 0.0 for match in matches]
 
 
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ def reasoning_steps_reward(completions, **kwargs):
         \n\* - matches bullet points with asterisks
         First,|Second,|Next,|Finally, - matches transition words
     """
-    pattern = r"(Step \d+:|^\d+\.|\n-|\n\*|First,|Second,|Next,|Finally,)"
+    pattern = re.compile(r"(Step \d+:|^\d+\.|\n-|\n\*|First,|Second,|Next,|Finally,)")
     completion_contents = [completion[0]["content"] for completion in completions]
-    matches = [len(re.findall(pattern, content)) for content in completion_contents]
+    matches = [len(pattern.findall(content)) for content in completion_contents]
 
     # Magic nubmer 3 to encourage 3 steps and more, otherwise partial reward
     return [min(1.0, count / 3) for count in matches]
@@ -161,11 +161,7 @@ def get_repetition_penalty_reward(ngram_size: int, max_penalty: float):
     """
     if max_penalty > 0:
         raise ValueError(f"max_penalty {max_penalty} should not be positive")
-
-    def zipngram(text: str, ngram_size: int):
-        words = text.lower().split()
-        return zip(*[words[i:] for i in range(ngram_size)])
-
+        
     def repetition_penalty_reward(completions, **kwargs) -> float:
         """
         reward function the penalizes repetitions
@@ -181,16 +177,13 @@ def repetition_penalty_reward(completions, **kwargs) -> float:
             if completion == "":
                 rewards.append(0.0)
                 continue
-            if len(completion.split()) < ngram_size:
+            words = completion.lower().split()
+            if len(words) < ngram_size:
                 rewards.append(0.0)
                 continue
-
-            ngrams = set()
-            total = 0
-            for ng in zipngram(completion, ngram_size):
-                ngrams.add(ng)
-                total += 1
-
+    
+            ngrams = set(zip(*[words[i:] for i in range(ngram_size)]))
+            total = len(words) - ngram_size + 1
             scaling = 1 - len(ngrams) / total
             reward = scaling * max_penalty
             rewards.append(reward)