This paper analyses and reflects on the role that the evaluation of scientific production in Qualis A1 (production considered to be of excellence) has played in Postgraduate Programmes in Education and in the scientific field. The scientific production produced by teachers and students is periodically evaluated by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education (Capes), the body responsible for evaluation. Thus, the problem arises around the evaluation criteria proposed by Capes for assessing the production of scientific knowledge and how these have affected the programmes and the scientific field. In this way, the aim is to understand the bases that underpin the evaluation criteria proposed by Capes and what is considered excellent scientific production.