Journal rankings
Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 journal quartiles explained
Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 divide journals into four ranked groups within a subject category in a particular ranking system. They describe relative citation position; they do not by themselves prove journal integrity, current indexing or suitability for your manuscript.
Maintained by the Beallslists.com editorial review team · Evidence reviewed: · Current verification cycle: 2026
Simple meaning of the quartiles
| Quartile | General interpretation |
|---|---|
| Q1 | Top quarter of journals in the relevant ranked category. |
| Q2 | Second quarter. |
| Q3 | Third quarter. |
| Q4 | Fourth quarter. |
The exact calculation depends on the database or metric. A journal can also appear in more than one subject category and therefore have more than one quartile.
Why “Q1 journal” can be ambiguous
- The ranking provider may not be stated.
- The journal may be Q1 in one category and Q2 in another.
- The claim may refer to a previous year.
- A website may quote an unofficial third-party quartile.
How to verify a quartile claim
- Identify the ranking system being claimed.
- Search the journal title or ISSN in that system.
- Check the subject category.
- Check the year.
- Save the record if the quartile matters for an institutional requirement.
Quartile is not the same as trustworthiness
Use quartiles for ranking context, not as a substitute for checking identity, current coverage, peer review, fees and publication policies. See how to verify indexing and how to evaluate a journal.
Sources and further verification
- SCImago Journal & Country Rank — SJR-based subject rankings and quartiles
- Clarivate Master Journal List — official Web of Science journal coverage lookup
Historical records are useful context, but journal ownership, indexing, policies and websites can change. Verify current claims at the original source before making a submission, hiring, promotion or funding decision.