What does the term 'improper format' imply about a submission?

The term 'improper format' indicates that the submission does not meet the required guidelines or standards set for it. As such, submissions in improper format typically do not fulfill the necessary criteria for approval and thus cannot be accepted as they are. This means they do not pass the initial review process and can lead to an automatic fail, as they cannot be considered valid or relevant in their current state.

The other choices suggest varying degrees of acceptability or review processes, which do not align with the implications of an 'improper format.' For instance, stating it may still be reviewed implies a level of acceptance that is in direct conflict with the idea of it being rejected outright due to formatting issues. Similarly, needing revisions suggests that the document is partially acceptable, which is contradictory to the categorization of having an improper format. Therefore, the identification of a submission with improper formatting as resulting in an automatic fail is a definitive and clear outcome based on the standards of submission requirements.