is it ok to use abbreviations?

[carmelmarie]

thank you again. i didn't realise there was space to put aea elsewhere i missed seeing it on the ucas website but i do see it now. the tutor referree is also a better idea than taking up loads of room in my statement which probably isn't meant to be about that. im needing to cut probably more like 200 characters actually, but i was thinking that abbreviations in some areas might just take the edge off the amount of what i had to cut.
by the way - i dont suppose you know, when you put music qualifications in i have private tuition and dont know the centre name or numbe. i read somewhere its ok to leave it blank, but theres a frightening exclamation mark saying unfinished next to it now. can i leave it at that or not?