Auditing and Attestation (AUD): Format and Tips

The Auditing and Attestation (AUD) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (CPA) tests the knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate when performing: 

• Audits of the issuer and non-issuer entities (including governmental entities, not-for-profit entities, employee benefit plans, and entities receiving federal grants).

• Attestation engagements for issuer and non-issuer entities (including examinations, reviews, and agreed-upon procedures engagements). 

• Preparation, compilation and review engagements for non-issuer entities and reviews of interim financial information for issuer entities.

The AUD section is designed to have the following exam time and question types on the US CPA Exam:

Section	Section Time	Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)	Task-based simulations (TBSs)	Written Communication
AUD	4 hours	72	8	–

The scoring weight of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), task-based simulations (TBSs) and written communication for AUD section on the US CPA Exam is as follows:

	Score Weightage
Section	Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)	Task-based simulations (TBSs)	Written Communication
AUD	50%	50%	–

The following table summarizes the content areas and the allocation of content tested in the AUD section of the Exam:

Content area	Topics	Allocation
Area I	Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and General Principles	15-25%
Area II	Assessing Risk and Developing a Planned Response	20–30%
Area III	Performing Further Procedures and Obtaining Evidence	30–40%
Area IV	Forming Conclusions and Reporting	15-25%

Here are some tips you must keep in mind while preparing for the AUD exam:

1. Spend more time practicing questions, than reading/ learning theory. The MCQs are generally more practical in nature, than theoretical.

2. Most people find out why an answer is not right. However, always identify the cause of your correct answer, as well. Sometimes you may get the answer right by chance. Ensure the logic applied by you is sound. Reading the solution explanation is highly important.

3. Never correct your errors on the same day, this way you end up learning the questions. That is not helpful in the actual exam. 

4. It is not unusual to be confused in two final options in AUD MCQs. However, you must always identify and select the best fit. If you can think of an exception, you are probably choosing the wrong option. 

5. Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) should be attempted after you have a stronghold in the MCQ section. Since simulations do not always conform to chapter boundaries and can test concepts from various disciplines. However, if you are good with the entire MCQs section, you will not find the TBSs as difficult, they will feel like long-form MCQs.

Read more about the US CPA related articles in our blog section: https://blogs.mileseducation.com/category/cpa/

Read more about FAR:  https://blogs.mileseducation.com/cpa/financial-accounting-and-reporting-far/

Read more about BEC:  https://blogs.mileseducation.com/cpa/business-environment-and-concepts-bec/

Read more about REG: https://blogs.mileseducation.com/cpa/regulation-reg/