Tools and Reflections

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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