Audit and Assurance Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Resource

Maintaining independence and objectivity is crucial for auditors to ensure the quality of their judgment during an audit. Independence allows auditors to perform their work without being influenced by external pressures or conflicts of interest, ensuring that their assessments and conclusions are based solely on the evidence obtained and their professional skepticism. Objectivity further supports this by requiring auditors to approach every audit engagement with impartiality, allowing them to evaluate facts and circumstances based on their professional judgment rather than personal bias or external factors.

In contrast, reliance solely on client-provided documents can result in a lack of verification and may lead to overlooking significant issues if the information is either incomplete or biased. Minimizing communication with the client can hinder the auditor's ability to fully understand the context and nuances of the client's situation, which is essential for making informed judgments. Lastly, following a rigid checklist approach may restrict the auditor’s ability to apply critical thinking and adapt their procedures as required, potentially leading to oversights and a less thorough audit.