Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) District Practice Exam

In the SOAP note format, O stands for Objective. This part records observable, measurable information you can verify, such as vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate), physical exam findings, and results from tests or imaging. It contrasts with subjective data, which is what the patient reports about their symptoms, and with the plan, which outlines what the clinician intends to do next. So, the O section captures the tangible data like labs, imaging, and exam findings (for example, a temperature reading, lung sounds, or a lab result), while subjective would note the patient’s described pain or dizziness, and the plan would specify treatments or further tests.