mlsanityData to 7 Oct 2026

MATCH: Model-Aware Tool Learning with Curriculum Scheduling and Hierarchically Gated Rewards

arXiv 2609.20082 ↗First posted 17 Sep 2026cs.LG cs.AI cs.CLcited by 0

On the map: LLM agents and tool use → Tool learning and function calling

Abstract (arXiv)

Tool learning enables large language models (LLMs) to use external tools for tasks beyond parametric knowledge. Reinforcement learning can optimize tool-call behavior from feedback, but current methods still face two problems: fixed-threshold curricula can become misaligned with the policy's evolving capability boundary, and additive rewards can leak argument-level credit when the predicted tool is wrong. To address these problems, we propose MATCH, a closed-loop framework for model-aware tool learning with curriculum scheduling and hierarchically gated rewards. Model-Aware Curriculum Learning (MACL) maintains reward-derived sample difficulty that co-evolves with the policy, and each epoch selects samples near the current capability boundary together with a top-k pool of harder cases. Hierarchical Tool-call Gated Reward (HTGR) scores tool name, argument key, and argument value as a gated chain, granting credit at each level only when prerequisites hold. The same HTGR rewards drive both GRPO updates and MACL's difficulty refresh, closing the loop between policy optimization and sample scheduling. On API-Bank and BFCL V3, MATCH reaches 72.19% and 62.87% overall accuracy, outperforming the main supervised and RL-based baselines. Backbone experiments further show consistent improvements across four backbones from two model families.

Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Tool learning and function calling, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use. Builds on 12 of its 18 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 17 Sep 2026.

Builds on

12 of 18 references.

Closest ancestors · 4

Same direction, newest first

  1. 2024ToolACE: Winning the Points of LLM Function Calling2 Sep
  2. 2023Gorilla: Large Language Model Connected with Massive APIs24 May
  3. 2023API-Bank: A Comprehensive Benchmark for Tool-Augmented LLMs14 Apr
  4. 2023Toolformer: Language Models Can Teach Themselves to Use Tools9 Feb

Other references · 8

  1. 2024DeepSeekMath: Pushing the Limits of Mathematical Reasoning in Open Language Modelscited by 8,851
  2. 2023Let's Verify Step by Stepcited by 3,598
  3. 2024HybridFlow: A Flexible and Efficient RLHF Frameworkcited by 1,980
  4. 2025Search-R1: Training LLMs to Reason and Leverage Search Engines with Reinforcement Learningcited by 1,371
  5. 2023FireAct: Toward Language Agent Fine-tuningcited by 247
  6. 2025Nemotron-Research-Tool-N1: Exploring Tool-Using Language Models with Reinforced Reasoningcited by 67
  7. 2025Tool Zero: Training Tool-Augmented LLMs via Pure RL from Scratchcited by 17
  8. 2025iTool: Reinforced Fine-Tuning with Dynamic Deficiency Calibration for Advanced Tool Usecited by 7

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Close in wording, no citation either way

  1. 2025ToolRL: Reward is All Tool Learning Needs
  2. 2026Joint Optimization of Tool Creation and Use for Large Language Model Agents
  3. 2025MENTOR: Reinforcement Learning via Flexible Teacher-Optimized Rewards for Tool-Use Distillation
  4. 2025Feedback-Driven Tool-Use Improvements in Large Language Models via Automated Build Environments
  5. 2025ToolSample: Dual Dynamic Sampling Methods with Curriculum Learning for RL-based Tool Learning
  6. 2025Tool-R1: Sample-Efficient Reinforcement Learning for Agentic Tool Use
  7. 2024StepTool: Enhancing Multi-Step Tool Usage in LLMs via Step-Grained Reinforcement Learning
  8. 2026MatchTIR: Fine-Grained Supervision for Tool-Integrated Reasoning via Bipartite Matching