{"id":20338,"date":"2025-10-22T14:01:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T11:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/?p=20338"},"modified":"2026-02-17T17:32:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:32:22","slug":"scopus-vs-scimago-quartiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/scopus-vs-scimago-quartiles\/","title":{"rendered":"Why are quartiles different in Scimago and Scopus\u2014and which one is considered official?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Many Kazakhstani researchers note that the same journal can have <\/span>different quartile<\/b>\u044c in\u00a0<\/strong>Scopus<\/b><\/a>\u00a0and in Scimago<\/a>. <\/strong>For example, Q2 in Scopus, but Q3 in Scimago.<\/span> Why does this happen \u2013 and what indicator is considered correct?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. Scopus and Scimago are not the same thing<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Scopus<\/b><\/a> \u2014 is an international database that indexes journals and displays their official metrics:<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\udd39CiteScore<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\udd39 CiteScore Percentile<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\udd39 Quartile (Q1\u2013Q4)<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

And here it is <\/span>Scimago Journal & Country Rank (SJR)<\/b><\/a> - This <\/span>separate analytical portal<\/span>, which uses Scopus data but calculates indicators using its own methodology.<\/span><\/p>


<\/span> It is not part of Scopus, although it is based on the same data.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. Different metrics \u2013 different results<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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IN Scopus<\/a><\/strong> is used <\/span>CiteScore Percentile<\/b>, which shows how highly cited a journal is in its subject category.<\/span><\/p>


<\/span> A Scimago<\/strong> <\/a>applies <\/span>SJR index<\/b>, where not only the number of citations is taken into account, but also <\/span>weight of citing journals<\/span> - that is, how prestigious are those who refer to the article.<\/span><\/p>


<\/span> This is similar to the PageRank system that Google uses to determine the importance of websites.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. Quartiles are formed differently<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\ud83d\udd39 In <\/span>Scopus<\/b><\/a> quartile (Q1\u2013Q4) is calculated by <\/span>CiteScore Percentile<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\udd39 In <\/span>Scimago<\/b><\/a> - By <\/span>SJR index<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Therefore, one journal can be Q2 according to the data Scopus<\/b><\/a>, but Q3 in Scimago<\/b><\/a> \u2014 and vice versa.<\/p>

This is not a mistake, but a result of different methods.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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4. Where does the confusion come from?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Many authors believe that Scimago and Scopus give the same results.<\/span>
<\/span> In fact <\/span>Scimago<\/a> only interprets the data Scopus<\/a><\/b>, but does not reflect them in real time.<\/span><\/p>


<\/span> For everyone <\/span>official reports in Kazakhstan<\/b>, including publication activity, dissertation defense and certification, is accepted <\/span>exactly the Scopus quartile<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\ud83d\udd0d Want to be sure you're choosing a journal in the right quartile?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Even experienced researchers sometimes find it difficult to understand which data is considered official \u2013 Scopus or Scimago \u2013 and how to ensure that a journal is actually indexed in\u00a0<\/span>Scopus<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>


<\/span> That's why <\/span>Academy of Articles<\/b> offers a service <\/span>verification and selection of scientific journals in Scopus<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Our team:<\/b><\/p>

\u2705 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0442 \u0436\u0443\u0440\u043d\u0430\u043b \u043f\u043e \u043e\u0444\u0438\u0446\u0438\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u043c \u0434\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u043c\u00a0Scopus<\/b><\/a>\u00a0(CiteScore, Percentile, quartile);<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u2705 \u043e\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0438\u0442, \u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043b\u0438 \u0438\u0437\u0434\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0434 \u0440\u0438\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043c \u0438\u0441\u043a\u043b\u044e\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u044f;<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u2705 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0431\u0435\u0440\u0451\u0442 \u043d\u0430\u0434\u0451\u0436\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0436\u0443\u0440\u043d\u0430\u043b \u0432 \u0441\u043e\u043e\u0442\u0432\u0435\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u0438 \u0441 \u0442\u0435\u043c\u043e\u0439, \u0442\u0440\u0435\u0431\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f\u043c\u0438 \u0438 \u0441\u0440\u043e\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u0443\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0446\u0438\u0438;<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u2705 \u043f\u0440\u0438 \u043d\u0435\u043e\u0431\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u0441\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\u044e \u0434\u043e \u0438\u043d\u0434\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0430\u0446\u0438\u0438.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83e\uddfe <\/span>Get expert journal review and recommendations for relevant publications\u2014all with the guarantee of up-to-date Scopus data.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ud83d\udc49 Learn more about the "Scientific Publication Selection in Scopus" service\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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5. What is important for a scientist to know<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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If you are preparing a report or publication for inclusion in the assessment, please see:<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u2705 <\/span>Scopus CiteScore Percentile<\/span> - this is the official figure.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

A <\/span>Scimago<\/b><\/a> can be used as a convenient <\/span>additional analysis tool<\/span>to evaluate dynamics, country statistics, or compare journals by subject.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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6. Difference in data relevance<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\ud83d\udd39 Scopus<\/b><\/a> updates indicators <\/span>throughout the year<\/span>: percentile and quartile reflect the current position of the journal.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\udd39 Scimago<\/b><\/a> publishes updates <\/span>once a year<\/span>: currently the data there is for 2024, and new data will appear only in mid-2025.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

That is, Scimago data <\/span>always lag behind<\/b> for at least several months.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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7. Practical conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\ud83d\udd39 Scimago<\/strong> <\/a>shows <\/span>obsolete quartile<\/b>.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\udd39 Scopus<\/strong> <\/a>\u2014 <\/span>the current picture today<\/b>.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Therefore, for certifications, PhD defense and reporting in Kazakhstan, please focus on <\/span>only on Scopus quartile<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2705 The main thing to remember:\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Scimago<\/a> =<\/strong> last year's statistics
Scopus<\/strong> <\/a>=<\/strong> current reality<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Conclusions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Understanding the differences between Scopus<\/strong> <\/a>And Scimago<\/strong><\/a> helps avoid common mistakes when choosing a magazine.<\/span><\/p>


<\/span>Scimago<\/b><\/a> can be used as an additional source of analytics, but the official and relevant indicator always remains the quartile Scopus<\/a><\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

It is important for researchers to focus not on visual ratings, but on the actual metrics of the database Scopus<\/a> \u2014 they reflect the current status of the journal and are recognized by the international academic community.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u041c\u043d\u043e\u0433\u0438\u0435 \u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u0445\u0441\u0442\u0430\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u0438\u0441\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0434\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0438 \u0437\u0430\u043c\u0435\u0447\u0430\u044e\u0442, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043e\u0434\u0438\u043d \u0438 \u0442\u043e\u0442 \u0436\u0435 \u0436\u0443\u0440\u043d\u0430\u043b \u043c\u043e\u0436\u0435\u0442 \u0438\u043c\u0435\u0442\u044c \u0440\u0430\u0437\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043a\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0442\u0438\u043b\u044c \u0432\u00a0Scopus\u00a0\u0438 \u0432 Scimago. \u041d\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0438\u043c\u0435\u0440, Q2 \u0432 Scopus, \u043d\u043e Q3 \u0432 Scimago. \u041f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443 \u0442\u0430\u043a \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0441\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442 \u2014 \u0438 \u043a\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c \u0441\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u043c? 1. Scopus \u0438 Scimago \u2014 \u044d\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435 \u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e \u0438 \u0442\u043e \u0436\u0435 Scopus \u2014 \u044d\u0442\u043e \u043c\u0435\u0436\u0434\u0443\u043d\u0430\u0440\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0431\u0430\u0437\u0430 \u0434\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0445, \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430\u044f \u0438\u043d\u0434\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0438\u0440\u0443\u0435\u0442 \u0436\u0443\u0440\u043d\u0430\u043b\u044b \u0438 […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":20339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-articles.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}