In SOAP notes, which section is the direct record of information reported by the patient?

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

Answer: (A)

The direct information a patient reports about their symptoms and history goes in the Subjective portion. This section captures what the patient says—chief complaint, current symptoms (onset, quality, location, duration, severity), factors that worsen or relieve it, past medical history relevant to the visit, medications, allergies, and how the issue affects daily activities. It represents the patient’s personal narrative and perceptions, often recorded in their own words or summarized from their responses. The clinician’s measurements, findings, and observations belong to the Objective section, while the Assessment interprets the data and the Plan outlines next steps. So the patient’s own reported information is documented in the Subjective part.