What Is the Difference Between a Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 Journal?

For researchers, especially PhD scholars, choosing a journal can feel confusing. You may see journals described as Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4, but what do these labels actually mean?

Do Q1 journals consistently outperform Q2 journals? Is a Q4 journal inherently of poor quality? And why might the same journal occasionally rank differently in Web of Science and Scopus?

These are important questions because journal selection can affect the visibility, reach, and academic value of your research.

The good news is that journal quartiles are easier to understand once you know how the ranking system works. To put it simply, the relative ranking of journals in a certain subject category divides them into four groups. Q1 represents the highest-ranked group of journals, whereas Q4 represents the lowest-ranked group.

Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4? The Main Difference

The easiest way to understand Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 journals is to compare them side by side.

Important: Ranking may not always indicate an article's quality because the quartile is relative.

The exact calculation depends on the database, ranking methodology, subject category, and year.

For example, Scopus uses metrics such as CiteScore to provide journal rankings and quartiles, while Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports provides rankings and quartiles associated with the Journal Impact Factor.

So, when someone tells you that a journal is "Q1," the next question should be:

Q1 according to which database, subject category, metric, and year?

Asking a single clear question can help prevent many common misunderstandings.

Think of Journal Quartiles as a Ranking Ladder

Imagine that 100 journals are ranked in the same academic subject.

A simplified example would look like this:

The word "relative" is crucial because of this.

A Q1 journal is not necessarily "four times better" than a Q4 journal. The quartile simply tells you where the journal sits within the ranking system being used.

The number of journals assigned to each quartile may vary depending on the presence of ties and the methodology adopted by the database.

Why Is a Q1 Journal Considered Highly Competitive?

A Q1 journal falls within the highest-ranking quartile of journals in its particular subject area. Such journals generally demonstrate strong citation performance, have an established readership, and enjoy high visibility within their fields of research. Consequently, publishing in a Q1 journal is often highly competitive.

For example, imagine a researcher has completed a study on artificial intelligence in healthcare. A Q1 journal specializing in medical informatics could provide access to a highly relevant research audience.

However, the researcher still needs to ask:

• Does the journal publish this type of research? 
• Does the study match its scope? 
• Does it accept the relevant article type? 
• What are its publication requirements? 
• What is its peer-review process? 
• Are its publication charges affordable? 
• Does the journal have indexing in the database recognized or required by the institution?

The Q1 classification can be an important factor when evaluating a journal, but it should not be the sole criterion for making a decision.The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) also cautions against using journal-level metrics as substitutes for evaluating individual research outputs.

What Makes Q2 Journals Worth Considering?

A Q2 journal generally falls between the 25th and 50th percentiles of journals in its category.

Many researchers overlook Q2 journals because they focus exclusively on Q1. That can be a mistake.

Suppose a doctoral researcher is studying sustainable infrastructure in the Himalayan region. A Q2 journal that specifically focuses on mountain development and sustainability may be more relevant to the research than a higher-ranked journal whose primary audience works in an unrelated area.

This illustrates an important principle:

The most appropriate journal is not always the one with the highest quartile ranking; instead, it is the journal whose scope, subject area, and focus most closely correspond to the research.

Q2 journals can also provide established platforms for researchers whose work has a strong disciplinary fit.

Does Q3 Mean a Journal Is Poor Quality?

Not automatically.

A Q3 journal is positioned within the third quartile of journals in its respective subject category. It generally sits between the 50th and 75th percentiles.

The mistake researchers sometimes make is treating quartile ranking as a direct measurement of the quality of every article published by a journal.

It is not.

Publication and citation practices vary across academic disciplines. In addition, a journal’s ranking may change over time as databases revise their classifications and the journal’s citation performance develops.

Therefore, researchers should examine the journal's:

• Editorial board
• Peer-review policy 
• Publication ethics 
• Indexing 
• Scope 
• Citation indicators 
• Article quality
• Publication history 

before deciding whether it is appropriate.

So, What Exactly Does Q4 Tell You?

A Q4 journal typically belongs to the lowest 25% of journals within its respective ranking category. This does not mean that every Q4 journal is fraudulent, nor does it mean that every paper published in a Q4 journal lacks academic value.

However, researchers should be particularly careful when evaluating journals at any ranking level.

Look for evidence of genuine peer review, transparent editorial policies, recognized indexing, clear publisher information, publication ethics, and legitimate contact information.

A quartile should never be used as a substitute for basic journal due diligence.

Scopus Q1 and Web of Science Q1 Are Not the Same Thing

This is an important consideration for researchers, as the same journal may be classified as Q1 in Scopus while receiving a different quartile ranking in Web of Science.

That does not necessarily indicate an error.

The databases use different coverage, methodologies, metrics, and classification systems.

Scopus provides CiteScore percentile, rank, and quartile information for indexed sources.

Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports provides Journal Impact Factor data and category rankings used to determine JIF quartiles.

Therefore, never assume that Scopus quartile = Web of Science quartile.

How Does the Journal Impact Factor Fit into the Evaluation?

The Journal Impact Factor, commonly called JIF, is one of the best-known journal-level metrics.

It is published through Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports and is used as part of the ranking system for journals covered by the relevant JCR categories.

But there is an important distinction:

Journal Impact Factor measures a journal-level citation indicator. It does not give an individual research paper a quality score.

For example, a journal may have a high JIF, but that does not mean every article published in it receives a high number of citations.

DORA specifically recommends caution when using journal-level indicators to evaluate individual researchers or individual research outputs.

This is why experienced researchers look beyond a single number.

Should You Always Choose a Q1 Journal?

Not necessarily.

Instead of asking only:

Rather than focusing on which journal has the highest quartile ranking, researchers should ask: “Which reputable journal most closely aligns with my research topic, target audience, and publication requirements?”

Consider this example:

In this hypothetical situation, the Q1 label alone does not tell the entire story.

This is why journal selection should involve both quantitative indicators and qualitative evaluation.

Five Things to Check Before You Submit Your Research

Before submitting a thesis-derived paper or research article, use this checklist.

1. Check the journal's actual indexing

Do not rely solely on a logo displayed on a publisher's website. Verify the journal through the relevant database.

2. Confirm the quartile and year

A journal's ranking can change. Record the specific year and category.

3. Read the journal's scope

Your research should align closely with the journal’s scope, objectives, and intended readership.

4. Examine publication ethics

Look for clear information about peer review, conflicts of interest, corrections, retractions, and research ethics.

5. Look beyond the quartile

Consider the journal's audience, article types, publication model, fees, visibility, and relevance to your research.

These steps are especially important for doctoral researchers publishing work from their thesis for the first time.

A Real-World Lesson: The Highest Rank Is Not Always the Whole Story

Consider a PhD scholar who has completed a thesis on AI-driven point-of-care diagnostics.

The researcher finds three potential journals:

• A Q1 journal focusing mainly on theoretical machine learning. 
• A Q2 journal specializing in AI applications in healthcare. 
• A Q3 journal specifically focused on point-of-care diagnostic technologies. 

If the researcher evaluates only the quartile, the first journal may appear to be the obvious choice.

But academic publishing involves a broader question: Where will this particular research make sense to the intended academic audience?

The second or third journal may have stronger topical alignment.

This does not suggest that Q2 or Q3 journals are automatically a better choice than Q1 journals. Rather, it highlights the importance of treating journal ranking as one factor in the selection process rather than the sole basis for making a decision.

What Should Researchers Remember About Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4?

The key points can be summarized simply:

The Bottom Line for Researchers

Understanding Q1 journal, Q2 journal, Q3 journal, and Q4 journal terminology is useful, but researchers should not reduce academic publishing to a race for a single ranking label.

Journal quartiles describe relative journal position within a particular category and ranking system. They do not provide a complete assessment of an individual article, researcher, or research project.

When choosing a journal, consider quartile ranking alongside indexing, subject relevance, editorial standards, peer review, publication ethics, readership, fees, and the specific requirements of your institution or research program.

For researchers preparing a thesis for publication, GlobalX Publications provides support in navigating the practical stages involved in preparing scholarly work for publication.

Ultimately, good academic publishing is not simply improper journal publishing, It is about placing proper research in a credible academic community who can read, evaluate, discuss, and build upon it.