Has my paper been rejected if Under Review exceeds 6 months?

No. Under Review only means the paper is still being evaluated. Review duration varies based on journal tier, reviewer availability, and number of review rounds.

What are the odds of rejection after Major Revision?

Typically 20-30%. Major Revision means reviewers see value but need significant changes. Thorough responses and revisions greatly improve acceptance odds.

Journal Review Timeline Guide

Journal Review Timeline Guide | How Long Should Under Review Status Last for SCI/SSCI Journals

How long should Under Review status last? AcademicIdeas covers SCI/SSCI journal review timelines: average review periods by journal tier, status meanings, when to follow up, and proper follow-up email templates.

Reviewer response letter guide Cover Letter template

AI Search Brief

Direct answer for this topic

Average review periods by SCI journal discipline and tier
Meanings of each manuscript status change
When and how to professionally follow up with editors
From submission to publication: submission (1-3 days) → editor initial review (1-4 weeks) → peer review (2-6 months) → decision → revision (1-3 months) → re-review (1-3 months) → acceptance (1-2 months) → proofreading (2-4 weeks) → online publication.

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Review record

2026-04-16

AcademicIdeas Editorial Review

Reviewed against the platform’s public reviewer-response, cover-letter, journal-paper, and SCI-polishing pages, together with Wiley’s official peer-review workflow guidance and the ICMJE recommendations baseline, so this page stays focused on status changes, follow-up timing, and revision-cycle expectations.

Source basis

Wiley: The peer review process

authorservices.wiley.com

Used to verify the standard steps from submission to editorial decision in an official publisher workflow guide.

Wiley: Peer review

authorservices.wiley.com

Used to verify common outcomes such as revision, rejection, and what authors should expect during review.

ICMJE Recommendations

icmje.org

Used to reinforce the broader journal-submission and revision norms behind timeline and follow-up advice.

Reviewer response letter guide

acaids.com

Used to supplement point-by-point response and revision communication scenarios.

Cover Letter template

acaids.com

Used to supplement editor-communication scenarios before and after submission.

Topic graph

Related workflows and reference pages

Generate defense slides Prepare defense Q&A Read the defense preparation guide Read the SCI polishing guide Prepare reviewer responses Use the cover letter template

What this page helps you do first

Average review periods by SCI journal discipline and tier
Meanings of each manuscript status change
When and how to professionally follow up with editors

Standard journal peer review workflow and timeline

From submission to publication: submission (1-3 days) → editor initial review (1-4 weeks) → peer review (2-6 months) → decision → revision (1-3 months) → re-review (1-3 months) → acceptance (1-2 months) → proofreading (2-4 weeks) → online publication.

Review periods by journal type

[Q1 Top journals (IF>10)] Average 3-6 months review
[Q1 journals (IF 5-10)] Average 2-4 months review
[Q2 journals (IF 3-5)] Average 1-3 months review
[Q3 journals (IF 1-3)] Average 1-2 months review
[Query tools] Elsevier Journal Finder, Springer Journal Suggester, Wiley Journal Finder

Common status meanings and normal duration

[Submitted to Journal] 1-3 days to next status
[With Editor] Usually 1-2 weeks to assign reviewers
[Under Review] Longest phase: typically 2-6 months
[Required Reviews Completed] Usually 1-2 weeks to editor decision
[Major/Minor Revision] Good sign — typically 1-3 months to respond

When and how to follow up professionally

[When to follow up] Usually after exceeding average review period by 1+ month
[Email template] Dear [Editor Name], I am writing to inquire about the status of my manuscript (ID: [ID], Title: [Title]) submitted to [Journal] on [Date]. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Author]

Frequently asked questions

Has my paper been rejected if Under Review exceeds 6 months?: No. Under Review only means the paper is still being evaluated. Review duration varies based on journal tier, reviewer availability, and number of review rounds.
What are the odds of rejection after Major Revision?: Typically 20-30%. Major Revision means reviewers see value but need significant changes. Thorough responses and revisions greatly improve acceptance odds.

Reviewer response letter guide SCI/EI paper writing guide