When you receive a revision request

• The platform shifts your submission page to the "Round N" view showing:

— The Editor-in-Chief's decision letter

— The anonymised reviewer reports, numbered Reviewer 1, Reviewer 2 ...

— Any annotated .docx files reviewers uploaded (available for download)

• Initial outcomes come in two levels: Minor revisions or Major revisions
• Typical time allowed: 4–6 weeks
• If you need more time, email the editorial office BEFORE the deadline

The point-by-point response letter

The response letter is the most important part of your revision. Follow this format:

1. Quote the reviewer's comment verbatim (italics or in a box)
2. State your response
3. Point to WHERE in the manuscript you made the change (page + line numbers)

Example:

*Reviewer 1, comment 2:* "The sample size (n = 32) seems small for the generalisation claims in the Discussion."

*Response:* We thank the reviewer for this important point. We have moderated the generalisation claims in the Discussion of the revised manuscript (page 14, lines 4–9) to apply only to our sample, and have added a "Limitations" subsection acknowledging the small sample size (page 15, lines 12–18).

Respond to every single comment — even ones you disagree with. See "If you disagree with a reviewer" below.

Using Word Track Changes

• Turn on Track Changes: Review tab → Track Changes → toggle ON
• Keep Track Changes ON throughout your revisions — do NOT Accept All before submitting
• Keep author names/affiliations removed — our system also auto-scrubs Word metadata (creator name, comments)
• If you accidentally accepted all changes — don't panic, upload what you have; reviewers will not complain
• Your file is automatically diffed against the previous version — reviewers will see your changes highlighted

What makes a good revision

• Address every comment — never skip
• Be specific — point to pages, line numbers, tables, or figures that changed
• Stay polite — even when a comment feels unfair, your response should remain professional
• Be self-correcting — if your original claim overreached, acknowledge and moderate
• Be clear — if you address comment 2 by changing section 3, explain the connection

Timeline and extensions

• Typical window for Minor revisions: 2–4 weeks
• Typical window for Major revisions: 4–6 weeks
• If you need more time, email [email protected] BEFORE the deadline with: your manuscript's internal code, the extra time requested, and a brief reason
• The Editor-in-Chief usually grants reasonable extensions — just ask, don't hide

If you disagree with a reviewer

Disagreement is normal in peer review. How to handle it:

• In the response letter, answer honestly and show your evidence
• Do not attempt to resolve by changing text you don't agree with — that produces incoherence
• The Editor-in-Chief is the final arbiter — if your evidence is strong, they may side with you
• If a subsequent decision still feels unfair, send a formal appeal to [email protected] with your specific reasoning

Resubmitting via the platform

The platform has a dedicated "Round N" page designed for revisions:

• Open your submission at /submit — the system automatically routes you to the Round N landing page
• Two checklist items to complete: your revised manuscript (.docx with Track Changes ON) and your response letter (.docx or textarea)
• Click "Submit revision" when both are green
• The platform emails the Editor-in-Chief automatically; you receive a confirmation
• The Editor-in-Chief then decides whether to send out for Round N+1 or decide directly

Related guides

• Workflow

  Submission process

  What to prepare before submitting, the stages your manuscript will move through, and the timelines you can expect at each step.

• Guidelines

  Author guidelines

  Manuscript structure, formatting, reference style, and specific requirements for each article type accepted by CJES.

• Fees

  Publication charges

  CJES is a diamond open-access journal — authors pay no charges of any kind, and readers access all articles freely. There are no APCs, no submission fees, and no hidden charges.

• Templates

  Manuscript templates

  Download pre-formatted Word templates for every CJES article type. The templates include the required structure and font choices for both Khmer and English.

• Workflow

  While your paper is under peer review

  What happens after you press submit, how long each stage usually takes, which emails you can expect from the platform, and when it is OK to nudge the editorial office.

• Workflow

  Author proof review

  After acceptance, the final gate before publication is your author proof. What to check, which corrections are allowed, which are not, and the timeline.

• Workflow

  Online First and Issue assignment

  What Online First means, when your article receives volume/issue/page numbers, how to cite it, and how to promote and share it.