Before submitting to a Scopus or OAK journal: 10 checks

2026-11-11

Many articles are returned before peer review not because of their content but because of formal problems: the abstract doesn't fit the rules, there is no methods section, the references are outdated or the journal was the wrong choice. Here are 10 points to check yourself before submitting. The numbers reflect common practice; the exact rules are always on the journal's Author guidelines page.

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1. Choose the right journal

The journal's scope should match your article, and the journal should really be in Scopus or on the OAK list. Some well-known journals have clone sites — submit only through the official website.

2. Title

Short and specific: usually 8–15 words naming the main result or the object of study. Avoid vague phrases like "some issues" or "certain aspects".

3. Author details

For every author: full name, affiliation, email and ORCID. ORCID is free and takes a few minutes at orcid.org; international journals almost always require it. Most journals in Uzbekistan and the CIS also ask for a UDC index above the title.

4. Abstract

Usually 150–250 words in 4 parts: aim, method, main result (with a number if possible) and conclusion. Many OAK journals ask for abstracts in Uzbek, Russian and English; the English one matters for being found in international databases.

5. Keywords

4–8 precise terms with English versions. Don't just repeat the title — choose terms people would search for.

6. IMRAD structure

Introduction (problem and aim), Methods (data, sample, approach), Results, Discussion (comparison with other studies) and Conclusion. A missing methods section is one of the most common reasons for rejection.

7. Aim and conclusion match

The first sentence of the conclusion should state, in the same terms, how the aim was achieved. A reviewer reads the aim, then the conclusion, and checks whether they match.

8. References

International journals usually expect 20–40 references, OAK journals at least 10; ideally more than half are from the last 10 years. Add DOIs where available, make sure every [n] appears in the list, and use the single style the journal requires (GOST, APA or Vancouver).

9. Originality

Many journals check submissions for plagiarism. Check it yourself first, and quote or rewrite in your own words anything copied without a source.

10. Read the journal's guidelines

Length, font, citation style, figure format and abstract languages differ between journals. Read the Author guidelines page in full and adapt your article before submitting.

Check everything at once

The Journal article readiness service checks most of these points automatically and shows every issue with its location: https://plagiatx.uz/maqolani-jurnalga-tayyorlash

Questions

How long should an abstract be?

Most journals ask for 150–250 words, some allow up to 300. The exact limit is in the journal's guidelines.

How many references are needed?

Common practice: 20–40 in international journals, at least 10 in OAK journals. What matters most is that they are recent and directly relevant.

Is ORCID required?

In most Scopus journals it is effectively required. It is free and takes a few minutes at orcid.org.

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