Every CA Inter Audit paper expects you to quote the Standard on Auditing by number and name, and ideally to state what it sets out to achieve. Students who write only “as per SA 315…” leave marks on the table. Students who write the number, the correct name, and the objective in one line pick those marks up before the answer even begins.
The trouble is that there are close to thirty of them, the numbers do not follow any obvious logic, and under exam pressure SA 501 and SA 510 look identical.
So here is the full list — every SA in the CA Inter Auditing and Ethics syllabus, with its exact name, its objective in plain language, and a memory shortcut for each one. Some of the shortcuts are deliberately silly. That is the point: a silly association survives exam pressure in a way that a serious one does not.
One thing before the list. Do not memorise these names word for word. You need the substance of the name and the gist of the objective, written in your own language. Word-perfect reproduction is not what earns the mark — showing you know which standard governs the situation is.
Watch it, or read it — your choice
I have covered this in a free video as well. If you would rather listen than read, play it below — it runs about 18 minutes and covers every standard with its shortcut and objective, exactly as written out here.
If you would rather read, everything from the video is written out below — the full list first, then each standard in detail. Many students do both: watch once so the associations land, then use the written list for revision.
Quick reference: all Standards on Auditing for CA Inter
Use this table for revision. Cover the middle column and try to produce the name from the shortcut.
| Standard | Full name | Memory shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| SQC 1 | Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and Other Assurance and Related Engagements | 1 = your number one priority. An auditor’s number one priority is quality. |
| SA 200 | Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Standards on Auditing | Two O’s = Overall Objective. |
| SA 210 | Agreeing the Terms of Audit Engagements | Two people signing one engagement letter. |
| SA 220 | Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements | Two people shoulder to shoulder, improving quality. |
| SA 230 | Audit Documentation | After the second page comes the third page. |
| SA 260 | Communication with Those Charged with Governance | Six is three times bigger — the bigger people, TCWG. |
| SA 265 | Communicating Deficiencies in Internal Control to Those Charged with Governance and Management | How can 5 come after 6? That is a deficiency. |
| SA 299 | Joint Audit of Financial Statements | Two lines working alongside each other. |
| SA 300 | Planning an Audit of Financial Statements | Three plans — A, B and C. |
| SA 315 | Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement Through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment | 15 ÷ 3 = 5 — five roads meeting at one point is risky. |
| SA 320 | Materiality in Planning and Performing an Audit | 20 ÷ 3 = 6.667 — and .667 is immaterial. |
| SA 330 | The Auditor’s Responses to Assessed Risks | Under attack? Send two teams of three. |
| SA 450 | Evaluation of Misstatements Identified During the Audit | Every assignment throws up four or five misstatements. |
| SA 500 | Audit Evidence | An important item deserves at least five pieces of evidence. |
| SA 501 | Audit Evidence — Specific Considerations for Selected Items | Which items are number one? Those get specific treatment. |
| SA 505 | External Confirmations | The one inside asked the one outside. |
| SA 510 | Initial Audit Engagements — Opening Balances | Every 5-10 years the auditor changes — and then opening balances must be checked. |
| SA 520 | Analytical Procedures | Take five items and compare them with the last two years. |
| SA 530 | Audit Sampling | Pick three items out of five — that is sampling. |
| SA 550 | Related Parties | Five brothers working shoulder to shoulder — related parties. |
| SA 570 | Going Concern | 5 + 7 = 12, and next year is 13 — danger ahead. |
| SA 580 | Written Representations | A written representation runs five to eight pages. |
| SA 600 | Using the Work of Another Auditor | Six branch auditors to deal with. |
| SA 610 | Using the Work of Internal Auditors | Every big company has one internal auditor. |
| SA 700 | Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements | Seven important elements in an audit report. |
| SA 701 | Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report | The number one item that took the most effort. |
| SA 705 | Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor’s Report | 7 − 5 = 2 — two reasons to modify. |
| SA 706 | Emphasis of Matter and Other Matter Paragraphs in the Independent Auditor’s Report | Two similar paragraphs — EMP and OMP. |
| SA 710 | Comparative Information — Corresponding Figures and Comparative Financial Statements | Seven out of ten items connect back to last year. |
Every SA in detail: name, shortcut and objective
SQC 1 — Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and Other Assurance and Related Engagements
Shortcut: 1 = your number one priority. An auditor’s number one priority is quality.
Objective: Establish and implement a system of quality control in the firm, so that all work complies with law, regulation and standards, and reports issued are appropriate.
SA 200 — Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Standards on Auditing
Shortcut: Two O’s = Overall Objective.
Objective: Obtain reasonable assurance on whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, and report on them.
SA 210 — Agreeing the Terms of Audit Engagements
Shortcut: Two people signing one engagement letter.
Objective: Establish whether the preconditions for an audit are present, and develop a common understanding of the terms of engagement between auditor and client.
SA 220 — Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements
Shortcut: Two people shoulder to shoulder, improving quality.
Objective: Ensure the audit complies with legal, regulatory and professional standards, and that the report issued is appropriate and reliable.
SA 230 — Audit Documentation
Shortcut: After the second page comes the third page.
Objective: Prepare documentation that evidences the audit was planned and performed as per law, regulation and SAs, and that provides a sufficient basis for the opinion.
SA 260 — Communication with Those Charged with Governance
Shortcut: Six is three times bigger — the bigger people, TCWG.
Objective: Establish effective two-way communication with TCWG: responsibilities after appointment, planned scope, significant findings, and matters affecting the report.
SA 265 — Communicating Deficiencies in Internal Control to Those Charged with Governance and Management
Shortcut: How can 5 come after 6? That is a deficiency.
Objective: Communicate deficiencies in internal control identified during the audit appropriately to TCWG and management.
SA 299 — Joint Audit of Financial Statements
Shortcut: Two lines working alongside each other.
Objective: An India-only standard. Lay down broad principles so joint audits are conducted uniformly, with clear division of work and clarity on separate, individual and joint responsibility.
SA 300 — Planning an Audit of Financial Statements
Shortcut: Three plans — A, B and C.
Objective: Plan the audit so it is performed efficiently and effectively.
SA 315 — Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement Through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment
Shortcut: 15 ÷ 3 = 5 — five roads meeting at one point is risky.
Objective: Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement by understanding the entity, its environment and its internal control, so appropriate responses can be designed.
SA 320 — Materiality in Planning and Performing an Audit
Shortcut: 20 ÷ 3 = 6.667 — and .667 is immaterial.
Objective: Apply the concept of materiality properly in both planning and performing the audit.
SA 330 — The Auditor’s Responses to Assessed Risks
Shortcut: Under attack? Send two teams of three.
Objective: Design and perform responses whose nature, timing and extent obtain sufficient appropriate evidence over the assessed risks.
SA 450 — Evaluation of Misstatements Identified During the Audit
Shortcut: Every assignment throws up four or five misstatements.
Objective: Evaluate the effect of identified misstatements on the audit, and of uncorrected misstatements on the financial statements and the opinion.
SA 500 — Audit Evidence
Shortcut: An important item deserves at least five pieces of evidence.
Objective: Design and perform procedures that obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the opinion.
SA 501 — Audit Evidence — Specific Considerations for Selected Items
Shortcut: Which items are number one? Those get specific treatment.
Objective: Obtain sufficient appropriate evidence on three areas: existence and condition of inventory, completeness of litigation and claims, and presentation and disclosure of segment information.
SA 505 — External Confirmations
Shortcut: The one inside asked the one outside.
Objective: Design and perform external confirmation procedures to obtain relevant and reliable audit evidence.
SA 510 — Initial Audit Engagements — Opening Balances
Shortcut: Every 5-10 years the auditor changes — and then opening balances must be checked.
Objective: Obtain evidence that opening balances contain no material misstatement, and that accounting policies have been consistently applied or changes are properly accounted for and disclosed.
SA 520 — Analytical Procedures
Shortcut: Take five items and compare them with the last two years.
Objective: Use analytical procedures at three points: in planning to identify risk, during execution as substantive procedures, and near the end to check the overall conclusion.
SA 530 — Audit Sampling
Shortcut: Pick three items out of five — that is sampling.
Objective: Use sampling so that a reasonable basis exists to draw conclusions about the population from which the sample is selected.
SA 550 — Related Parties
Shortcut: Five brothers working shoulder to shoulder — related parties.
Objective: Identify risks of material misstatement and fraud risk associated with related party relationships, perform appropriate procedures, and conclude on whether the financial statements achieve fair presentation.
SA 570 — Going Concern
Shortcut: 5 + 7 = 12, and next year is 13 — danger ahead.
Objective: Three steps: identify events or conditions casting significant doubt, perform additional procedures to conclude on material uncertainty, and report appropriately.
SA 580 — Written Representations
Shortcut: A written representation runs five to eight pages.
Objective: Obtain written representations on management’s responsibility, use them as supporting evidence for other items, and respond appropriately if they are not given or are unreliable.
SA 600 — Using the Work of Another Auditor
Shortcut: Six branch auditors to deal with.
Objective: Define and perform the roles and responsibilities of principal auditor and other auditor, and report properly on the reliance placed.
SA 610 — Using the Work of Internal Auditors
Shortcut: Every big company has one internal auditor.
Objective: Evaluate the internal audit function, decide the areas in which help can be taken, and carefully use their work or direct assistance.
SA 700 — Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements
Shortcut: Seven important elements in an audit report.
Objective: Form an opinion on the financial statements based on the circumstances, and express it clearly in a written report.
SA 701 — Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report
Shortcut: The number one item that took the most effort.
Objective: Determine key audit matters and communicate them appropriately in the auditor’s report.
SA 705 — Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor’s Report
Shortcut: 7 − 5 = 2 — two reasons to modify.
Objective: Express a clearly modified opinion when the auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence, or when there is a material misstatement.
SA 706 — Emphasis of Matter and Other Matter Paragraphs in the Independent Auditor’s Report
Shortcut: Two similar paragraphs — EMP and OMP.
Objective: Highlight matters fundamental to users’ understanding of the financial statements (EMP), and matters relevant to understanding the audit itself (OMP).
SA 710 — Comparative Information — Corresponding Figures and Comparative Financial Statements
Shortcut: Seven out of ten items connect back to last year.
Objective: Obtain sufficient appropriate evidence that comparatives are as per the applicable framework, and report on them properly.
How to actually use this in the exam
- Open with the reference. One line: the SA number and its name. It costs you five seconds and signals immediately that you know the territory.
- State the objective if you are unsure of the detail. If a question catches you and the finer requirements will not come, writing the standard’s objective and the points around it still earns marks. A blank space earns none.
- Do not confuse the neighbours. SA 501 and SA 510, SA 600 and SA 610, SA 705 and SA 706 — these pairs are where numbers get swapped under pressure. That single error can cost the whole reference mark on an otherwise correct answer.
- Revise this list on the last day. It is roughly a twenty-minute read and it steadies the whole paper.
Frequently asked questions
How many Standards on Auditing are in the CA Inter syllabus?
Around 29 including SQC 1, spanning SA 200 to SA 710. The list above covers all of them.
Do I need to write the full name of the SA in the exam?
Not word for word. Write the number and a substantially correct name. Getting the number right matters more than reproducing the title exactly.
What is the difference between SQC 1 and SA 220?
SQC 1 deals with quality control at the level of the firm. SA 220 deals with quality control for an individual audit engagement. Firm versus engagement is the distinction being tested.
Which SAs are asked most often in CA Inter Audit?
SA 200, 230, 240, 300, 315, 320, 330, 500, 505, 530 and the SA 700 series appear repeatedly. But the numbering itself is examinable across the whole list, which is why the full set is worth twenty minutes.
What is the easiest way to remember SA numbers and names?
Association, not repetition. Each shortcut above links the number to something visual or absurd — five brothers for SA 550 related parties, five to eight pages for SA 580 written representations. Read them once, and the number pulls the name back on its own.
Related free resources
- CA Inter Audit — all free resources in one place (planners, marathons, MCQ videos, soft copies)
- FADU Chart Book — the same compression, on paper, for last-day revision
- PARAM Question Bank — to practise applying these standards to actual questions
Mast raho. Smart padho. — CA Ravi Taori