diff --git a/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 1c88fd1..775f1ec 100644
--- a/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,47 +1,13 @@
-## What
+## Description
 
-{1–2 sentences. What this PR does in plain language. Not a code-walkthrough — focus on the user-visible or system-visible change.}
+{What this PR does in plain language and, if non-obvious, why this change is needed. Not a code-walkthrough — focus on the user-visible or system-visible change}
 
-## Why
-
-{Why this change is needed. Reference the ticket and pull in the key constraint or context that drove the approach. If a non-obvious decision was made, name it.}
-
-Closes ENG-123
+Closes {https://put.the/ticket-link/here}
 
 ## How to verify
 
-{Step-by-step instructions a reviewer can follow locally. Be specific: env vars to set, routes to hit, fixtures to use, expected output. If there's no manual verification path (pure refactor, infra), say so explicitly and point to the automated tests.}
-
-1. ...
-2. ...
-3. ...
+{Instructions a reviewer can follow locally. If there's no manual verification path, say so explicitly and point to the automated tests.}
 
 ## Notes for the reviewer
 
 {Optional. Call out anything unusual: a deliberate deviation from a pattern, a follow-up that's deferred, a known limitation. Skip this section if there's nothing to flag.}
-
----
-
-## Ready to merge
-
-🧠 **Go through each point yourself. Do not treat these as formalities.**
-
-**Author**
-
-- Tested the feature end-to-end as a user would, including edge cases and failure states
-- Automated tests cover the happy path, edge cases, and failure states where applicable
-- Implementation matches the ticket: acceptance criteria, scope, and out of scope
-- Regression risk was considered and tested where applicable
-
-**What did you test? List the cases briefly**
-
-1. ...
-2. ...
-3. ...
-
-**Reviewer**
-
-- Pulled and ran the branch locally for any UI or user-facing changes
-- Tested the feature yourself, independently from the author's description
-- Verified behavior against the acceptance criteria, not just the code diff
-- Regression risk was independently assessed