Choosing a journal affects review times, the likelihood of acceptance and the use of the publication in a scientist’s academic attestation. The quartile is a widely used indicator for comparing journals within a subject area. Its value depends on the database, the year of calculation and the subject category, so it should be checked separately.
What is a journal quartile and how is it determined?
A quartile shows a journal’s position in the ranking of its subject area. The journals in a subject area are ranked by the chosen indicator and divided into four parts: Q1 – the top 25%, Q4 – the bottom 25%.
In Scopus, the ranking is based on CiteScore; on the SCImago portal, it is based on the SJR indicator. Journal Citation Reports (Web of Science) uses the impact factor, and for humanities journals it uses the Journal Citation Indicator.
A quartile reflects how often a journal is cited relative to other journals in the subject area, but it does not assess the quality of an individual article.
Journal quartile depends on the subject area and the year
A single journal may belong to several subject areas, and in each of them it will have its own quartile. For example, a journal may be in Q1 in one area and in Q2 in another.
The Scopus list of sources displays the area in which a journal’s position is highest, so it is useful to check the quartile for your own discipline separately.
The indicators are published annually, so a quartile may change. The values in Scopus, Web of Science and SCImago are calculated using different indicators and may differ for the same journal.
What journal quartile requirements apply in Kyrgyzstan?
The publication requirements for defending a dissertation are set by the “Regulation on the procedure for awarding academic degrees” (Annex 3 to Resolution No. 637 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic dated 6 October 2025).
For a Candidate of Sciences dissertation, the Regulation provides for at least five publications, including one article in a journal indexed in Scopus and/or Web of Science and publications from the “List of peer-reviewed scientific periodicals” of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC). For a Doctor of Sciences dissertation, the figure is at least fifteen publications, including two articles in Scopus and/or Web of Science.
Separate conditions are provided for the specialities “Kyrgyz language”, “Kyrgyz literature” and “folklore studies”.
A specific quartile is not stated in the text of the Regulation; it refers to the indexing of a journal in Scopus and/or Web of Science. Additional conditions may be set out in the internal documents of a university or dissertation council, so it is worth clarifying them before choosing a journal.
Choosing a journal by quartile and the purpose of publication
Competition is often higher in Q1 and Q2 journals, and the requirements for novelty and methodology are stricter. In Q3 and Q4 journals, competition is generally lower, which may suit narrowly specialised or applied topics.
Review times and the peer-review model are determined by the policy of the individual journal rather than by its quartile. The choice between Q1-Q2 and Q3-Q4 depends on the university’s requirements, the topic of the article and acceptable timeframes.
What to consider when choosing a journal, apart from the quartile?
Besides the quartile, it is important to assess the following parameters:
- the article’s fit with the journal’s subject area and scope
- the current indexing status in Scopus or Web of Science
- review times and the peer-review model stated on the journal’s website
- requirements for the structure, length and formatting of the manuscript
The procedure for choosing a journal by quartile
The choice of a journal can be approached in the following order:
- Define the purpose of the publication and clarify the requirements of the university or dissertation council.
- Compile a list of journals in your subject area in Scopus or Web of Science.
- Check the journal quartile for your discipline for the current year.
- Compare the subject area, review times and editorial requirements.
- Make sure the journal is currently indexed.
A quartile helps to compare journals within a subject area, but it does not replace checking the subject fit, indexing status and the university’s requirements. The HAC Regulation provides for publications in journals indexed in Scopus and/or Web of Science, without specifying a particular quartile. It is therefore advisable to base the choice of a journal on the purpose of the publication, up-to-date database information and the journal’s official requirements.
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