Which term describes the section of a SOAP note where a patient’s own statements about symptoms are recorded?

• A. Subjective
• B. Objective
• C. Assessment
• D. Plan

Answer: (A)

The section that records what the patient themselves says about symptoms is the subjective part. It captures the chief complaint, history of present illness, and the review of systems—details provided by the patient or someone who knows them well. These statements reflect the patient’s experience and are not measured data, which is why they’re labeled subjective. For example, you might record: “Patient reports a throbbing headache for three days, rate 7/10, worsened by bright lights, with associated nausea.”

In contrast, the objective portion contains what the clinician observes or measures—vital signs, physical exam findings, and test results. The assessment is the clinician’s interpretation or diagnosis based on all data, and the plan outlines the management, treatments, or follow-up.