diff --git a/av1/encoder/firstpass.c b/av1/encoder/firstpass.c
index dc6e481..3b90a5c 100644
--- a/av1/encoder/firstpass.c
+++ b/av1/encoder/firstpass.c
@@ -2198,20 +2198,27 @@
       // BIPRED_UPDATE frames need to be further adjusted.
       gf_group->bit_allocation[frame_index] = target_frame_size;
 #if USE_SYMM_MULTI_LAYER
-    } else if (cpi->new_bwdref_update_rule == 1 &&
+    } else if (cpi->new_bwdref_update_rule &&
                gf_group->update_type[frame_index] == INTNL_OVERLAY_UPDATE) {
       int arf_pos = gf_group->arf_pos_in_gf[frame_index];
       gf_group->bit_allocation[frame_index] = 0;
 
-      // Tried boosting up the allocated bits on backward reference frame
-      // by (target_frame_size >> 2) as in the original setting. However it
-      // does not bring gains for pyramid structure with GF length = 16.
       gf_group->bit_allocation[arf_pos] = target_frame_size;
-#endif
+#if MULTI_LVL_BOOST_VBR_CQ
+      if (gf_group->pyramid_level[arf_pos] == (gf_group->pyramid_height - 1))
+        gf_group->bit_allocation[arf_pos] += target_frame_size;
+      else
+        gf_group->bit_allocation[arf_pos] += (target_frame_size >> 1);
+#endif  // MULTI_LVL_BOOST_VBR_CQ
+#endif  // USE_SYMM_MULTI_LAYER
     } else {
       assert(gf_group->update_type[frame_index] == LF_UPDATE ||
              gf_group->update_type[frame_index] == INTNL_OVERLAY_UPDATE);
       gf_group->bit_allocation[frame_index] = target_frame_size;
+#if MULTI_LVL_BOOST_VBR_CQ
+      if (cpi->new_bwdref_update_rule)
+        gf_group->bit_allocation[frame_index] -= (target_frame_size >> 1);
+#endif
     }
 
     ++frame_index;
diff --git a/av1/encoder/ratectrl.c b/av1/encoder/ratectrl.c
index 842d611..049598a 100644
--- a/av1/encoder/ratectrl.c
+++ b/av1/encoder/ratectrl.c
@@ -1011,12 +1011,33 @@
     // For constrained quality dont allow Q less than the cq level
     if (oxcf->rc_mode == AOM_CQ) {
       if (q < cq_level) q = cq_level;
+#if USE_SYMM_MULTI_LAYER && MULTI_LVL_BOOST_VBR_CQ
+      if (gf_group->update_type[gf_group->index] == ARF_UPDATE ||
+          (is_intrl_arf_boost && !cpi->new_bwdref_update_rule)) {
+#endif  // USE_SYMM_MULTI_LAYER && MULTI_LVL_BOOST_VBR_CQ
+        active_best_quality = get_gf_active_quality(rc, q, bit_depth);
 
-      active_best_quality = get_gf_active_quality(rc, q, bit_depth);
+        // Constrained quality use slightly lower active best.
+        active_best_quality = active_best_quality * 15 / 16;
+#if REDUCE_LAST_ALT_BOOST
+        if (gf_group->update_type[gf_group->index] == ARF_UPDATE) {
+          const int min_boost = get_gf_high_motion_quality(q, bit_depth);
+          const int boost = min_boost - active_best_quality;
 
-      // Constrained quality use slightly lower active best.
-      active_best_quality = active_best_quality * 15 / 16;
-
+          active_best_quality = min_boost - (int)(boost * rc->arf_boost_factor);
+        }
+#endif
+        *arf_q = active_best_quality;
+#if USE_SYMM_MULTI_LAYER && MULTI_LVL_BOOST_VBR_CQ
+      } else {
+        active_best_quality = rc->arf_q;
+        int this_height = gf_group->pyramid_level[gf_group->index];
+        while (this_height < gf_group->pyramid_height) {
+          active_best_quality = (active_best_quality + cq_level + 1) / 2;
+          ++this_height;
+        }
+      }
+#endif  // USE_SYMM_MULTI_LAYER && MULTI_LVL_BOOST_VBR_CQ
     } else if (oxcf->rc_mode == AOM_Q) {
       if (!cpi->refresh_alt_ref_frame && !is_intrl_arf_boost) {
         active_best_quality = cq_level;
diff --git a/av1/encoder/ratectrl.h b/av1/encoder/ratectrl.h
index 22e85f4..8e8ae2e 100644
--- a/av1/encoder/ratectrl.h
+++ b/av1/encoder/ratectrl.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #define BPER_MB_NORMBITS 9
 
 #define CUSTOMIZED_GF 1
+#define MULTI_LVL_BOOST_VBR_CQ 1
 
 #if CONFIG_FIX_GF_LENGTH
 #define FIXED_GF_LENGTH 16