Q1 vs Q2 vs Q3 vs Q4Journals: How to Decide Where to Submit Your Paper

For any researcher preparing to submit a manuscript—whether to Scopus or Web of Science (WoS) journals—the journal’s quartile ranking (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) is one of the most important indicators to consider. These rankings reflect the journal’s influence, citation impact, and competitiveness. But many researchers still ask:

What exactly is the difference between Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 journals?
Which quartile should I choose for my research?
Are Q1 journals always the best option?
Does publication speed differ across quartiles?
What about publication fees and acceptance rates?

This article explains everything you need to know—and provides practical tips to help you choose the right journal for your publication goal.

What Are Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 Journals?

Journal quartiles divide academic journals into four categories (Q1–Q4) based on their impact and ranking within a specific subject area.
Quartiles apply to both Scopus-indexed and Web of Science-indexed journals.

■ Q1 Journals (Top 25%

These are the highest-impact, most reputable journals in their field.
Characteristics:

Very competitive
High citation impact
Lower acceptance rates
Often longer review times
High academic value (promotion, funding, academic ranking)

Best for:
High-quality, novel, strong research papers.

■ Q2 Journals (25%–50%)

These are strong, reputable journals but slightly less competitive than Q1.

Characteristics:

Good citation impact
Moderate acceptance rates
Balanced review timeline
Strong academic recognition

Best for:
Good-quality studies with solid methodology and clear contributions.

■ Q3 Journals (50%–75%)

These journals maintain academic quality but are more accessible.

Characteristics:

Higher acceptance rates
Faster publication timelines
Less citation impact compared to Q1/Q2
Ideal for authors looking for quicker publication

Best for:
Mid-level research, practical studies, time-sensitive submissions.

■ Q4 Journals (Bottom 25%)

These are entry-level journals in the indexing list.

Characteristics:

Highest acceptance rates
Often the fastest review and publication process
Lower impact and citation metrics
Suitable for graduation or basic publication requirements

Best for:
Beginner researchers, urgent deadlines, or mandatory publication requirements.

How Are Quartiles Determined?

Quartiles depend on the ranking of a journal within its subject category, based on metrics like:

CiteScore (Scopus)
SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)
Impact Factor (Web of Science)
Citation metrics
Editorial and scholarly influence

Each indexing system uses different formulas, but the principle is the same:
Q1 = highest ranked, Q4 = lowest ranked.

Quartiles

Differences Between Q1–Q4 Journals: What Actually Matters

Researchers typically focus on five key aspects:

1. Publication Fees

Many assume Q1 journals charge more, but that is not always true.

Scopus Journals

Q1 & Q2 Open Access: $1,000–$3,000+
Q3 & Q4 Open Access: $300–$2000
Traditional Scopus journals may be free across all quartiles.

Web of Science Journals

SCIE/SSCI (Q1 & Q2): Usually higher APC fees
ESCI (mostly Q3/Q4): Moderate or low fees

Important:
Quartile does not determine fee — the open access model does.

2. Publication Speed & Review Timeline

Q1 Journals

Slowest review process (8–20+ weeks)
Multiple rounds of revisions
Very detailed peer review

Q2 Journals

Moderate review speed
Balanced between rigor and efficiency

Q3 & Q4 Journals

Faster peer review (3–8 weeks)
Often selected for urgent deadlines
More predictable timelines

If speed matters, Q3/Q4 journals are usually the best option.

3. Acceptance Rate

General Trend:

Q1: 5–20%
Q2: 20–35%
Q3: 35–55%
Q4: 55–75%

The higher the quartile, the more competitive the journal.

4. Suitability for Academic Requirements

For university promotion:

Q1 / Q2 (Scopus or Web of Science)

For graduation:

Q1–Q4 depending on policy
(ESCI and Scopus Q3/Q4 often accepted)

For fast publication:

Q3 / Q4
(especially in Scopus & ESCI)

Differences Between Q1–Q4 Journals: What Actually Matters (Comparison Table)

Criteria	Q1 Journals	Q2 Journals	Q3 Journals	Q4 Journals
Impact & Prestige	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highest impact, top 25%	⭐⭐⭐⭐ High impact, top 25–50%	⭐⭐⭐ Moderate impact	⭐⭐ Entry-level impact
Likelihood of Acceptance	Very Low (Highly competitive)	Low–Moderate	Moderate–High	High (most flexible)
Peer Review Speed	Slowest (3–12 months)	Moderate (2–6 months)	Faster (1–3 months)	Fastest (2–8 weeks)
Publication Timeline	Longest	Moderate	Fast	Very Fast
Publication Fee	May be higher (if open access)	Moderate	Lower	Usually lower
Suitable For	Strong, novel, high-impact studies	Solid research with good methodology	Applied or descriptive studies	Early-career researchers, deadline-driven submissions
Chance of Desk Rejection	Very High	High	Moderate	Low
Indexing	Scopus / WoS (SCI/SSCI)	Scopus / WoS (SCI/SSCI)	Scopus / WoS	Scopus / WoS (including ESCI)
Use in Academic Promotion	Most preferred	Highly preferred	Accepted in most universities	Accepted but weighted lower
Publishing Goal Match	Prestige, career advancement	Strong academic CV	Consistent publication record	Graduation requirements / fast publishing
Reviewer Expectations	Extremely strict	Strict	Balanced	Practical and less strict

How to Check the Quartile Ranking of a Journal

Checking a journal’s quartile is essential to avoid misinformation or predatory journals.

Check

If the journal is indexed in Scopus:

Use SCImago Journal Rank (SJR):

Steps:

Go to: https://www.scimagojr.com
Search the journal name
View:
- Subject categories
- Quartile (Q1–Q4)
- SJR metric
- Citation statistics

SJR assigns quartiles based on the journal's ranking within its category.

If the journal is indexed in Web of Science:

You need access to the Journal Citation Reports (JCR).

Steps:

Log in to Web of Science (institution access needed)
Open "Journal Citation Reports"
Search for the journal
Check:
- Quartile ranking
- Impact Factor
- Categories

Which Quartile Should You Choose? Practical Scenarios

Here are clear guidelines to decide:

Choose Q1 if:

Your research is highly novel
You want maximum global visibility
You have time (long review process)
You need publication for academic promotion

Choose Q2 if:

Your paper is solid but not groundbreaking
You want a balance between prestige and acceptance
You prefer a moderate review timeline

Choose Q3 if:

You need publication within a few months
You want reasonable acceptance probability
Your study is practical, industry-based, or mid-level research

Choose Q4 if:

You need fast publication
You are a beginner researcher
You need a paper for graduation requirements
Your university accepts Q4 journals
You want the lowest APC fees

Final Tips for Choosing the Right Quartile

1. Understand your goal clearly

Do you want:

Fast publication?
Academic promotion?
University graduation requirement?
High prestige?

Your goal determines the quartile.

2. Match the journal to the quality of your paper

Not all manuscripts are suitable for Q1/Q2 journals.
Choosing a journal above your paper’s level leads to rejection and delays.

3. Check indexing carefully

Many predatory journals falsely claim Q1–Q4 ranking.
Always verify using SJR or JCR.

4. Consider timeline and deadlines

If you need publication within 1–3 months, choose Q3 or Q4.

5. Ask for professional journal recommendation

Experts can match your paper to the right journal quartile, indexing, and acceptance probability.

Tips

Need Help Choosing Between Q1–Q4 Journals?

At SITA Academy, we provide:

Accurate journal quartile verification
Journal recommendation based on your paper
Formatting to journal guidelines
Plagiarism check & removal
Professional English editing
Full submission and publication assistance
Scopus & Web of Science (SCI, SCIE, SSCI, ESCI) journals

Whether your goal is fast publication or top-tier journals, we can guide you to the right option.

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