Quiz, Internal Audit Evidence Criteria (40 MCQs)

Section A: Sufficiency (Questions 1–10)

1. What does the sufficiency of audit evidence primarily refer to?
   A. The source of the evidence
   B. The quantity of the evidence
   C. The relevance of the evidence
   D. The accuracy of the evidence

2. When is more audit evidence generally required?
   A. When the internal control environment is strong
   B. When audit evidence is persuasive
   C. When inherent risk is low
   D. When audit risk is high

3. Which of the following is most likely to increase the sufficiency of audit evidence?
   A. Using third-party confirmations
   B. Increasing the size of the sample
   C. Reviewing past audit reports
   D. Performing a walkthrough

4. What is the auditor’s goal regarding sufficiency of evidence?
   A. To ensure 100% verification of data
   B. To reduce the time of the audit
   C. To obtain enough evidence to support conclusions
   D. To confirm all transactions manually

5. A small sample size may result in audit evidence that is:
   A. Sufficient
   B. Conclusive
   C. Insufficient
   D. Redundant

6. Sufficiency of audit evidence is a function of:
   A. Relevance and timeliness
   B. Quantity and quality
   C. Independence and objectivity
   D. Budget and schedule

7. If the control risk is assessed as high, how should the sufficiency of evidence be adjusted?
   A. No change
   B. Reduced
   C. Eliminated
   D. Increased

8. An auditor decides to expand testing due to identified control weaknesses. This decision relates to:
   A. Relevancy
   B. Timeliness
   C. Sufficiency
   D. Reliability

9. Which technique would help an auditor assess sufficiency?
   A. Peer benchmarking
   B. Data triangulation
   C. Stratified random sampling
   D. Control self-assessment

10. Evidence is considered sufficient when it:
    A. Is obtained from independent parties
    B. Fully supports the audit findings
    C. Meets quantity requirements for a reasonable conclusion
    D. Comes from internal sources

Section B: Reliability (Questions 11–20)

11. Which of the following is generally the most reliable type of audit evidence?
    A. Oral evidence from management
    B. Internally generated reports
    C. Third-party confirmations
    D. Notes taken during walkthroughs

12. Which factor most affects the reliability of evidence?
    A. Auditor’s experience
    B. Timing of evidence collection
    C. Source and method of collection
    D. Nature of audit procedure

13. Evidence collected directly by the auditor is considered:
    A. Unreliable
    B. Inferior to third-party evidence
    C. Most reliable
    D. Least persuasive

14. Which of the following reduces the reliability of audit evidence?
    A. Being received in written form
    B. Being obtained from a biased source
    C. Being generated under strong internal controls
    D. Being supported by corroborating documentation

15. Reliability increases when evidence is:
    A. From informal conversations
    B. From internal personnel only
    C. Supported by multiple sources
    D. Delivered verbally

16. Which condition best enhances the reliability of audit evidence?
    A. Documentation created after the audit began
    B. Evidence provided by the auditee’s management
    C. Evidence from a system with strong access controls
    D. Reports with subjective interpretations

17. Which of the following sources provides the least reliable evidence?
    A. Independent external vendors
    B. System logs with controlled access
    C. Verbal assurance from staff
    D. Original signed contracts

18. One way to verify the reliability of data from a system is to:
    A. Rely solely on system reports
    B. Interview the IT administrator
    C. Test access controls and data integrity
    D. Use reports from prior audits

19. Reliable evidence should be:
    A. Intuitive and brief
    B. Subjective and recent
    C. Objective and verifiable
    D. Confidential and private

20. The use of triangulation (cross-verifying with multiple sources) improves:
    A. Relevance
    B. Sufficiency
    C. Usefulness
    D. Reliability

Section C: Relevancy (Questions 21–30)

21. Relevance of audit evidence refers to how well it:
    A. Confirms financial balances
    B. Is documented
    C. Relates to the audit objective
    D. Supports management claims

22. Which of the following is an example of relevant evidence for a payroll audit?
    A. Inventory transaction logs
    B. Timesheet approval records
    C. Vendor payment data
    D. IT system uptime statistics

23. Which evidence is irrelevant for evaluating compliance with purchasing policies?
    A. Purchase orders
    B. Vendor contracts
    C. Sales receipts
    D. Invoices

24. Relevance is primarily about:
    A. Evidence being legally defensible
    B. Evidence being well-documented
    C. Evidence aligning with the purpose of the audit
    D. Evidence being timely

25. Which of the following would improve the relevance of evidence in an audit of IT access controls?
    A. Historical sales performance
    B. User access logs
    C. Expense reports
    D. Hiring documentation

26. Relevance depends most on:
    A. The scope and objective of the audit
    B. The organizational chart
    C. The experience of the auditor
    D. How recent the evidence is

27. Evidence collected during a facilities audit may be irrelevant for:
    A. Maintenance issues
    B. Health and safety compliance
    C. Vendor contract review
    D. Equipment condition analysis

28. A common reason for irrelevance in audit evidence is:
    A. Lack of documentation
    B. Wrong audit objective applied
    C. High volume of data
    D. Over-reliance on external sources

29. Evidence is only considered relevant if it:
    A. Was prepared by management
    B. Can be physically verified
    C. Helps answer audit questions
    D. Is recent

30. An auditor discards a report because it doesn’t pertain to the process being audited. This action is based on:
    A. Reliability
    B. Sufficiency
    C. Relevancy
    D. Usefulness

Section D: Usefulness (Questions 31–40)

31. Usefulness of evidence is best defined as its ability to:
    A. Increase workload
    B. Support conclusions and actions
    C. Replace legal records
    D. Confirm financial ratios

32. Evidence that is well-organized, clear, and actionable is considered:
    A. Timely
    B. Useful
    C. Reliable
    D. Relevant

33. Which type of evidence is likely the most useful in reporting findings to senior management?
    A. Raw data logs
    B. Technical code documentation
    C. Graphical summary with risk ratings
    D. Interview transcripts

34. What aspect of audit evidence makes it more useful?
    A. Technical complexity
    B. Legal terminology
    C. Clarity and decision support
    D. Extensive footnotes

35. Audit evidence that improves the reader’s ability to understand risks is considered:
    A. Useful
    B. Reliable
    C. Sufficient
    D. Valid

36. An audit report includes charts that simplify findings. This enhances:
    A. Relevance
    B. Usefulness
    C. Sufficiency
    D. Reliability

37. Usefulness can be diminished if the evidence:
    A. Is collected from a reliable source
    B. Lacks connection to the audit goal
    C. Is presented clearly
    D. Is corroborated

38. An example of highly useful evidence in a fraud audit would be:
    A. Anonymous rumors
    B. A detailed timeline of suspicious transactions
    C. An email chain about unrelated events
    D. Financial statements

39. Which of the following would reduce the usefulness of audit evidence?
    A. Vague language and lack of analysis
    B. Simple charts and actionable recommendations
    C. Concise summaries
    D. Visualized trends

40. To improve usefulness, audit evidence should be:
    A. Legal and formal
    B. Highly technical
    C. Understandable and goal-aligned
    D. Old and detailed

✅ Answer Key