If you’re in the machine learning community, you’re probably familiar with the ACL Rolling Review (ARR) process for EMNLP conferences. The latest stats for ARR May 2025 are out, and they’re generating some interesting discussions.
According to the stats, about 25% of submissions have a Meta score of 3.5 or higher. But what does this mean for authors hoping to get their papers accepted?
## The Big Question: Can You Get into the Main Conference with a Meta Score of 3.5?
One Redditor asked a great question: is it still possible to get into the main conference with an Overall Assessment (OA) score of 3.0, Soundness score of 3.3, and a Meta score of 3.5? Or is it more likely to be accepted to Findings?
## Understanding the Scores
Before we dive into the answer, let’s break down what these scores mean:
* **Meta score**: This is an aggregate score that combines the Overall Assessment, Soundness, and other factors. A higher Meta score generally indicates a stronger paper.
* **Overall Assessment (OA) score**: This score reflects the reviewer’s overall evaluation of the paper’s quality, impact, and relevance.
* **Soundness score**: This score assesses the paper’s technical soundness, including its methodology, data, and results.
## The Verdict: What Do the Scores Mean for Authors?
While there’s no hard-and-fast rule, a Meta score of 3.5 is generally considered competitive. However, the OA and Soundness scores also play a crucial role in determining the paper’s fate.
If you’re an author with a paper in this category, it’s essential to carefully review the feedback from the reviewers and address any concerns they may have raised. Even with a Meta score of 3.5, a paper with significant flaws in Soundness or Overall Assessment may be more likely to be accepted to Findings rather than the main conference.
## Takeaway: Keep Calm and Review On
The ACL Rolling Review process can be nerve-wracking, but it’s essential to stay focused on improving your paper. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or a newcomer to the field, understanding the review process and adapting to feedback is crucial to success.
So, take a deep breath, review the stats, and keep working on your paper. And who knows? You might just find yourself presenting at EMNLP 2025.
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*Check out the official stats: