The Biggest Guide to CA Intermediate Audit (2021) | Edu91

If you are searching about CA Inter Audit or have any questions regarding the syllabus, best faculty for CA Inter Audit, exam pattern, or any other such topic then this is the blog for you. We are going to answer all the questions you might have and all others you didn’t know you wanted to ask.

This is the kind of blog which you need to come back to every once in a while throughout your preparations so that you can get maximum benefit.

To avoid all the possible confusions regarding this subject, we are going to answer all the possible questions you might have had about the subject. So, let’s start from the scratch.

Chartered Accountancy

The Chartered Accountancy course is divided into 4 parts. CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, Articleship and CA Final. While foundation, intermediate and final are the examination parts; Articleship consists of three years paid training for the CA Intermediate qualified students. Articleship helps students gain the required knowledge and understand the practical aspects of the Chartered Accountancy world.

It is important to qualify CA Intermediate to start articleship. After the completion of Articleship, students become eligible for appearing in the CA Final exams. Today we are going to talk about the second level of Chartered Accountancy, i.e., CA Intermediate. The qualification required to appear for CA Intermediate is clearing CA Foundation or being a graduate.

It is important to qualify CA Intermediate to start articleship. After the completion of Articleship, students become eligible for appearing in the CA Final exams. Today we are going to talk about the second level of Chartered Accountancy, i.e., CA Intermediate. The qualification required to appear for CA Intermediate is clearing CA Foundation or being a graduate.

It is important to qualify CA Intermediate to start articleship. After the completion of Articleship, students become eligible for appearing in the CA Final exams. Today we are going to talk about the second level of Chartered Accountancy, i.e., CA Intermediate. The qualification required to appear for CA Intermediate is clearing CA Foundation or being a graduate.

The foundation route is pretty straight forward. You need to have cleared CA Foundation to appear for CA Intermediate exams.

Whereas a commerce graduate or post graduate student needs to have a minimum of 55% to appear in CA Intermediate exam. Whereas graduate or post graduate students from any other stream need to have a minimum of 60% marks. This route is called the direct-entry route.

Students entering into CA Intermediate through the direct-entry route also need to do a 9 months practical training to be eligible for the exam.

Students who have qualified the Intermediate level from The Institute of Cost Accountants of India, or The Institute of Company Secretaries of India are also eligible to register for the CA Intermediate examination.

Following are the routes to enter CA Intermediate.

CA Intermediate

CA Intermediate is the second level of the Chartered Accountancy course. It consists of eight papers distributed in two groups. Both groups contain four papers each.

The first group consists of Accounting, Corporate and Other Laws, Cost and Management Accounting, and Taxation which includes Direct Taxes and GST.

CA Inter Group I

The second group of CA Intermediate contains four papers, Advanced Accounting, Auditing and Assurance, Enterprise Information Systems & Strategic Management, and Financial Management & Economics for Finance.

CA Inter Group II

Today we are going to focus on Paper six of group two of CA Intermediate, i.e, Auditing and Assurance.

CA Inter Audit

Auditing and Assurance is the sixth paper of CA Intermediate. This paper provides knowledge about audit procedures, and consists of techniques and skills required to apply in the practical world.

CA Inter Audit is not a subject which can be studied on its own. The knowledge gained from subjects like Accounting and Corporate and Other Laws helps in the understanding of Auditing. This is a very important subject, the knowledge of which helps students to become a better professional.

In the words of ICAI- “Auditing is, perhaps, one of the most practical-oriented subjects in the CA curriculum .”

And yet students consider Auditing to be a theoretical subject and try to run away from it. Audit is, arguably, the least favorite subject of CA Inter students. Or maybe second least favorite subject after EIS & SM. But it is definitely there, sometimes tying with the two.

This dislike towards Audit occurs due to a lot of different reasons, some of which we are going to discuss in the blog. But, generally, it is because students have a lot of doubts about Auditing and Assurance as a subject.

In this blog, we will try to answer all of those doubts; starting with-

Is CA Inter Audit a practical subject or a theory subject?

The first page of ICAI’s study material tells you that Audit is a practical subject.CA Inter Audit is, in fact, the most practical theory subject.

It’s not practical in the sense that it contains numerical but in the sense that it has the most application in the practical world.
It is a subject which is useful in both- your journey of becoming a Chartered Accountant and your journey after becoming a Chartered Accountant.

We can understand the importance of the subject ‘Auditing and Assurance’ by the fact that Audit is a subject at both Intermediate and Final level. Moreover, the power given to a Chartered Accountant is the statutory power to Audit. So, it is right to say that CA Inter Audit is a practical subject.

Coming to the next question, the syllabus of CA Inter Audit. It is very important to know the syllabus before you start your preparation. Unless and until you know the syllabus you would not be able to do your preparation in a strategic manner. So, let’s talk about the syllabus.

CA Inter Audit Syllabus

The CA Inter Audit Syllabus is divided into two modules. The first module contains the following chapters-

The second module of CA Inter Auditing and Assurance contains-

You can find the ICAI study material of CA Intermediate onilne here. 

Along with the chapters mentioned above, students also have to study the Standards on Auditing and the amendments issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

CA Inter Audit Amendments

The dictionary definition of amendments is a minor change or addition designed to improve a text, piece of legislation, etc. Likewise, any changes occurring in the Audit Legislation is included in the Audit Amendments issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Amendments are a part of the Revision Test Papers and are very important for the exams.

Some questions in the Revision Test Papers are based on the amendments for the practice of students. This is to familiarize students with the kind of questions that can be asked in the exams from the amendments. It is highly advisable to be thorough with the amendments as they can help you score good marks.

CA Inter Audit Chapter Order

When you are studying you should start with the basics and go in the order as per the study material. But the chapter order plays an important role when you start revising.

You can use the following chart for the order in which you should revise the CA Inter Audit chapters-

Tips for chapter order of CA Inter Audit

1. The first chapter you should start your revision with is The Company Audit. It is a chapter which can come for as high as twenty marks.
2. Second chapter you should revise is Audit Reports. It is an easy chapter. Revising Company Audit and Audit Reports one after the other helps you in a better understanding of both the chapters.
   It includes SAs like SA700, SA701, SA705, SA706, CARO, etc.
3. Once you finish the above two chapters, start with Audit of Different Types of Entities. This chapter comes for eight marks in the exam. And it usually contains the same set of questions that are asked in each exam.
4. After completing the above chapters, revise the first chapter, i.e, Nature, Objective and Scope of Audit.
   You must cover the new topics added in the course like Concept of Auditor’s Independence, Threat to Independence, Types of Threat, Meaning of Independence, Importance of Independence, etc.
5. After you have completed the above chapters, revise chapter two to chapter five, i.e, Audit Strategy, Audit Planning and Audit Programme, Audit Documentation and Audit Evidence, Risk Assessment and Internal Control, and Fraud and Responsibilities of the Auditor in this Regard.
   After this study chapter seven, Audit Sampling and chapter eight Analytical Procedures.
6. Then revise chapter six, Audit in Automated Environment. This chapter contains just seven eight questions and can come for four marks.
7. After this, revise chapter twelve, Audit of Banks.
8. Finally finish your revision with chapter nine, Audit of items of Financial Statements.

CA Inter Audit SA Lists

Here is a list of all the SAs for CA Inter Audit including Standards on Quality Control (SQCs), Standards on Auditing (SAs), Standards on Review Engagements (SREs), Standards on Assurance Engagements (SAEs), and Standards on Related Services (SRSs).

Standards on Quality Control (SQCs)

Standards on Auditing (SAs)

Categorization of Important SAs for CA Inter Audit

We will divide the SAs in three categories, viz., Category A, Category B and Category C. Category A includes all the highly important SAs, Category B includes moderately important SAs and Category C includes SAs with low importance

Category A

CA Inter Audit Standards list with high importance-

The SAs in category A have a very high chance of coming in exam. You do not need to cover them separately. Go through them while you are studying the relevant chapter.

For example, SAs 700 to SAs 706 will be covered in Audit Report, basics will include SAs 200, 210, 220, etc.

Category B

CA Inter Audit Standards list of moderate importance-

For SAs in Category B, you just need to do all the relevant questions for each Standard on Auditing. 

Pick questions from Study Material, RTPs, MTPs, Suggested Answers, etc., practice them well and you’re good to go.

Category C

CA Inter Audit Standards list with low importance-

If you believe that you cannot manage to finish the entire syllabus then you can choose to pay less attention to the following Standards of Auditing. Just giving them a read might be enough for exams.

You should practice all the SAs by writing them down again and again.

Practice all the questions of each Standard on Auditing that you can find to grasp the idea of how to answer SAs in the exam.

CA Inter Audit Section-wise Weightage

CA Inter Audit Chapter-wise weightage

Now that we have seen the sectional weightage of CA Inter Audit syllabus, let’s have a look at the chapter-wise weightage-

CA Inter Audit Paper Pattern

Scoring good marks in CA Inter Audit has become relatively easier than before thanks to the new paper pattern introduced in 2019.

The new CA Inter Audit paper pattern is as follows-

1. MCQs
   Now the first type of question of the CA Inter Audit paper is thirty marks Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). It is divided into two parts-
1. Twenty questions of one mark each, and
2. Five questions of two marks each.
   

If you want to practice CA Inter Audit MCQs, you can go on mocktestpapers.com where you can find Test Series and MCQs. You will get on the spot results and much more.

2. Descriptive Questions
The remaining seventy marks are of descriptive type questions. Out of which, question number one is compulsory.
You have to attempt any four of these five questions.

1. Correct / Incorrect
   The first question comes in the form of correct and incorrect type and is a compulsory question. This question carries fourteen marks and contains eight sub-questions out of which you have to do any seven questions.
2. Descriptive questions
   The remaining five questions are of fourteen marks each. You have to attempt at-least four from the set of 5.

The questions are further divided into questions of four marks and six marks.
There is an internal choice in question number six wherein you can choose any two questions of four marks, along with a six marks question.

CA Inter Audit Notes

Full disclosure: You should always make your own notes. Your notes will be easier to comprehend as you have already invested the time to prepare those in advance.

If you are studying from someone else’s notes, no matter whose it is or how good it is, it won’t be the same for you.

The biggest benefit of making your own notes is you can do it in your own way.

You can customize the charts as you want, use mnemonics that are easier to understand for yourself and apply memory techniques that are most suitable for you.
Sure!, you can get handwritten notes of teachers but it can only be used ancillary to your own handwritten notes.
You should make three types of notes along with your detailed notes, these are as follows:

Short Notes

The regular notes you make contain all the information about the topic. Short notes are a way to review those notes, and add points which help you to combine what you have learnt and connect it with your lectures.

If you are taking face to face classes, then your short note can contain the date of the particular lecture your note is about whereas if you are taking online classes, your short notes can contain the particular time stamp of the topic in the video lecture.

This helps when you are revising a topic from your short notes but are having some doubts. You can see the date or time stamp and go to that particular date in your main notebook or that time stamp in your video lecture and refresh your memory of the topic.

This is why we suggest you make your own short notes. There are some CA Inter Audit short notes available in the market but it is always best to make your own.
You can summarize your concepts as per your understanding of the topics. Your short notes should contain memory techniques and mnemonics which are quick and easy for you to understand. It should also help you remember the concepts for a long time.

CA Inter Audit short notes become all the way more important when there are only a few days left for the audit exam. You can save your time by going through the short notes instead of browsing through more descriptive notes. 

If you are unable to remember any particular topic, you can go through your main notes. The usage of short notes makes spotting harder topics easy.

The more personalized the notes, the better.

Summary Notes

Summary notes are a boon at the time of exam.
It is advisable to prepare your own summary notes as they are unique to your own understanding and interpretation of tricky topics. Summary Notes will make sense only when they are yours.
Summary notes, as the name conveniently suggests, are the notes which encapsulate all the other important notes of varying sizes and degrees.
They contain only the most important information about a particular topic, hence they are beneficial during revisions.
They are like a small excerpt given at the end of the chapters containing all the key points without going into details.
You should definitely make your own summary notes for the audit exam as using someone else’s just won’t make sense to you.

Revision Notes

When people are studying from their main notes, they like to make small notes which they can use for revision at the time of exam and that is essentially the purpose of Revision Notes.
You can find a lot of CA Inter Audit Revision Notes online but instead of jumbling around all of them, you should pick one set and stick to it.
All the revision notes contain more or less the same thing. So, it is better to use only one revision note and revise from them during the exam.
Of course nothing can beat your own revision notes but if you haven’t prepared any then you can use what’s available online.

How to Prepare for CA Inter Audit?

The key to success in CA Inter Audit lies in the number of revisions you are able to do. You have to complete the whole study material at least once. The actual preparation for CA Inter Audit starts at the revision level.

You can start with your revisions only when you have completed the whole syllabus through coaching or through self study.

We suggest revising the complete syllabus at least three times.

How to Revise for CA Inter Audit?

You should keep in mind the marks distribution per chapter and prioritize which chapter to prepare first and the ones to save for the end. It’s all about the sequence in your revision strategy.

Though you can pick the sequence of chapters as per your liking but here’s how we’d suggest you to go about your revisions-

Company Audit
The first chapter you should pick is Company Audit. It comes for around eight to twenty marks in the examination.
We’ll divide the important sections of Company Audit in two categories, viz., Category I and Category II. There are six important sections under Category I which are as follows-

Category I

The sections in Category I are of high importance and you must learn them thoroughly.

After you have prepared well for the above sections you should focus on Category II that contains the following sections-

Category II

The sections in Category II are of moderate importance. You have to divide all the chapters in such categories and mark them according to level of importance viz - high, moderate, and low importance.
You can divide it on the basis of frequency of questions asked from each topic.

Audit Report: The second chapter you should revise is chapter number eleven, Audit Report. This chapter contains the following Standards on Auditing-

After studying Company Audit and Audit report you should study Chapter one to Chapter five and Chapter seven and Chapter eight.

Audit of Different Types of Entities: Next you should pick Chapter thirteen: Audit of Different Types of Entities. It is a very scoring chapter.

To score good marks in the questions from this chapter you just need to follow the answers provided by ICAI in the Study Material, Revision Test Papers and Suggested Answers and frame your answers in a similar manner.

The last chapter you need to study is chapter nine: Audit of items of Financial Statements.
The first thing you need to do is prepare notes. You should go through the questions provided by ICAI and try to understand the flow of the answers. Follow the assertions and the audit procedure to obtain audit evidence.
If you understand the flow of the answer you can easily answer all the questions asked from this chapter.

Method for Preparing CA Inter Audit

Make notes and charts
Throughout your preparation you should keep making notes and charts. You should also keep memorizing the charts as you go along with your preparations.
Your handmade notes and charts for audit will help you in a better understanding of the subject.
Understand the concepts thoroughly
There’s no shortcut for this. You have to understand the concepts clearly and thoroughly. If you don’t know the relation between audit risk and materiality, no matter how much you mug up, there are chances of getting in wrong in the exam.

The CA Inter Audit exam has MCQs and Correct/Incorrect type questions which test your core concepts hence it’s very important to have clear knowledge.

Use ICAI Study Material for preparation
The fact is all the books for CA Inter Audit available in the market are based on the ICAI’s study material.
No matter which teacher you took your classes from, you MUST always keep ICAI’s study materials with you and prepare from them. If you don’t study from ICAI’s Study Material, RTP, MTP, Suggested Answers you won’t be able to clear your exam no matter which teacher you took your coaching from.

Learn and Underline the Keywords
You should pick the keywords from the answers provided by ICAI. Note them, underline them, learn and practise them by writing them down. Keywords create an impact on the examiner and you must always use keywords in your answers.

If your concepts are clear, you use keywords in exams and have a good sentence formation skill, you won’t face any problems in the exam.

1. Make a table for all SAs
   You should make a list of all the SAs and go through them everyday. Make a list, stick it in front of your study table and read them aloud each chance you get.
2. Make mind maps for SAs
   When you are preparing for exams, make mind maps for all the Standards on Auditing. Mind maps are only useful if you have gone through them before, so don’t try to make mind maps at the time of exam as they will do more harm than good.

Make your own mind maps for each SAs as they will help you in easy revision before the exams.

Take tests regularly

You can make your own questions or pick the previous year papers from ICAI’s website. But you must always take regular tests.

Tests help you figure out the sections you are good at and the sections you are lagging in. And unless and until you know where to work on, you can’t work on it. So, take regular tests, ask your parents or siblings or friends to check them and prepare yourself better for exams.

Write and practice one question every day

You don’t have to learn in the exam, you have to write. So, instead of just reading the answers, make it a habit to write at least one answer every day.

It’ll not only help you with your writing practice but writing answers will help you grasp the concepts in a better way.

Learn how to present your answers

The presentation of answers in exams is of utmost importance. Refer to ICAI’s MTPs and Suggested Answers to understand how to present your answer.

Framing your answers in the correct manner is very important. When you study the answers from ICAI’s materials it’ll help you understand the structure of answers. A well-framed and structured answer is the key to scoring good marks in CA Inter Audit.

CA Inter Audit Modules

The CA Inter Audit module of ICAI now includes only Study Material. Earlier there used to be Practice Manual as well. In the old syllabus, the chapters used to be in a set of books called Study Material. These books did not contain questions.

All the questions of relevant chapters used to be in Practice Manual in chapter form. It also contained previous year questions or other important questions for exams.

You can find the Study Modules of Audit for CA Intermediate here.

Free resources available for CA Intermediate Audit

ICAI has provided plenty of resources for CA Inter students which can enable them to prepare well for the exams. The best thing about them is they are available for absolutely free on ICAI’s website.
ICAI sends students the study materials and Revision Test Papers booklet when they register for CA Intermediate. But these resources are also available on ICAI’s portal.
The following are the resources provided by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India-

Study Material

ICAI knowledge portal has all the latest study materials relevant for the exams. If you don’t have your books with you, or you’re an old student giving the exams again but don't have the latest study material, you can always go to ICAI’s knowledge portal and access all the study materials there.

Audit Pronouncements

An especially important part of CA Inter Audit study material is the Audit Pronouncements. It mainly contains Standards on Auditing. Is it important to study CA Inter Audit Pronouncements? Well, yes and no. Since it basically contains Standards on Auditing, and SAs are important, it makes Audit pronouncements important. Study all the relevant SAs from Audit Pronouncements along with the SAs present in the chapters. There is no need to study deleted SAs.

Reference for Quick Revision

ICAI even has a ‘Reference for Quick Revision’ section on the knowledge portal. You just need to go to the website and you can find a lot of cool stuff to facilitate your preparation.

You can find quick revision references for both Group I and Group II of CA Intermediate.

Revision Test Papers

In the words of ICAI,
“RTPs provide the glimpses of not only the desirable ways in which examination questions are to be answered but also of the professional quality and standard of the answers expected of students in the examination. Further, aspirants can assess their level of preparation for the examination by answering various questions given in the RTP and can also update themselves with the latest developments in the various subjects relevant from the examination point of view.”

The Revision Test Paper is divided into three parts. The first part contains the subject-wise amendments applicable for the relevant examination.

The second part contains the important questions for the CA Inter audit exam. And the third part contains chapter wise important questions and their answers keeping in mind the CA Inter Audit paper.

These amendments are very important as per the exam point of view. And in the exam around 20 marks questions come from the RTP and the amendments.

Mock Test Papers

The ICAI conducts Mock Tests for the students appearing in the exams. You can appear for these mock papers by registering at the nearest Board of Studies. It is a very good way for the students to access their preparations.
ICAI also uploads two Mock Test Papers on the knowledge portal which the students can download and solve.

Solving the Mock Test Papers before the exam gives students an understanding of the paper and helps them see where they stand in their preparation.

The Audit paper is usually very lengthy. And since it is important to attempt 100% paper, it is important to give Mock Tests to help you practice.

You can find the Mock Test Papers issued by the ICAI on the knowledge portal.

Previous Year Papers

The ICAI’s website has all the previous year papers for each subject. Students must go through these questions. It helps you analyze how some questions are very repetitive.
When students go through the previous year papers they can pick the repetitive questions and get a good hold on them. There are high chances of those questions to come in the exam.

Suggested Answers

ICAI also provides the suggested answers for the previous year papers.
Students should go through these to figure out the structure of answers expected from them. When you go through the suggested answers you will realize that ICAI breakdowns the answers in parts.
The first part is usually an introduction and then comes all the relevant information about the topic.
After that, they pick the question in hand, answer it based on the technical information provided in the previous paragraph and end it with a conclusion wherein they sum up everything that has been written in the previous paragraphs.
There’s also extensive use of keywords and charts.
The charts give the students the idea of how they should present their answers in CA Inter Audit paper. And they must follow it to get good marks.

Other Free Resources Available for CA Inter Students

You can check edu91.org for a few FREE Courses. Yes, you heard it right. Edu91 offer some free courses to guide and support students in their CA journey.

You can also check out following YouTube channels to attend free live sessions, masterclasses, revision & study videos of CA Inter Audit:

• Neeraj Arora
• Neeraj Arora Live
• Edu91 Live

You can also tune in to India’s First Podcast on Audit by Neeraj Arora Sir at 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3j2gtOWSscfn3U084DJh6C

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/audit-by-neeraj/id1527286134

Google - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2F1ZGl0YnluZWVyYWovZmVlZC54bWw

Now that we have covered all the subject related things, lets cover some other questions that students have about the subject.

Which is the most difficult subject in CA Inter?

The answer to that question is, well, subjective. That means, it differs from person to person.

For some, Accounting might be the toughest subject. But for others it might be theoritical subjects like Auditing and Assurance or Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) & Strategic Management (SM).

But when you think about the most difficult subject, most of the students will say Auditing and Assurance.

Are you one of those students too?

The more important thing to consider here is ‘why’? Why do students consider CA Inter Audit as the most difficult subject? And such other myths which we are going to bust for you.

Myths about the subject of CA Inter Audit

Let's talk about a few common myths associated with the Auditing subject. It’s important to talk about these in order to bust them and give you more clarity on this subject.

MYTH: CA Inter Audit is the most difficult subject.

Most of the students consider CA Inter Audit to be the most difficult subject.

The fear of something arises due to a lack of knowledge in that area. Or sometimes due to the big, new words that we have not heard of before.

Another major problem which makes the subject so difficult for students is the premeditated mindset that it is a difficult subject.

The credit goes to the CA fraternity. They make such a big deal out of it that it keeps becoming difficult.

Some teachers deliberately present the contents of the subject in a complex manner so as to incite the students into buying their courses and bank on it.

The students who consider Audit a difficult subject are the ones who did not get a good teacher during their preparation. They did not have a teacher who could make the subject interesting for them.

Hence, they tell their juniors how tough of a subject Auditing is. And since the new students only hear about it being difficult, they accept it at face value without giving it a fair chance.

Auditing and Assurance is a relatively new subject for a CA Intermediate student. A student who has just started his Intermediate course might find it intimidating as it wasn’t spoken about up to the Foundation level. 

The newness of it along with the complex language makes it difficult to understand at first glance.

But if we just read it twice or thrice it starts becoming more clear. At least give it one fair chance.

More on how to study CA Intermediate Auditing later on the blog.

MYTH: Auditing is a boring subject

Auditing is a very interesting subject if you have the right guidance. Once you accept that it is not a difficult subject it becomes 50% easier than it was before

Auditing might seem like a boring subject if the teacher you are getting your classes from is not that good. But in reality it is one of the most interesting subjects.

It is a practical subject, when you take the real life examples and try to understand through them it becomes much more interesting.

MYTH: You can not score good marks in CA Inter Audit

You can get good marks in Auditing. You have to write the answers in a well structured form with the use of keywords. There are so many students who score exemption in Audit. All you need is picking up the right strategy.

Prepare a study plan and stick to it. Revise at-least three times.

Solve the questions present in the study material, revision test papers, model test papers, previous year exam papers, etc. 

The more you practice the more you will acquaint yourself with the subject. The more you will increase the chances of scoring good marks.

MYTH: You have to use exact study material language

WRONG. You have to use the important keywords and use the structure given in the study material not use the exact word to word language of study material. 

It is impossible to write in the exact language as the study material as it’s only possible if you have a book open in front of you in the exam or have a photographic memory. So instead of setting impossible standards for yourself you should study in a strategic manner and know what exactly ICAI expects from you. They don’t expect you to write in the exact same language as the study material.

MYTH: You can get good marks by writing in layman’s language

You can use layman’s language as long as you are also including keywords.

If on the one hand you don't need to write in the exact same manner as ICAI’s study material answers, on the other end of the extreme, you are not supposed to answer in complete layman’s language either.

Keep a balance of casual language and strong usage of keywords and you are set to score good marks.

MYTH: The lengthier answer you write the more marks you get

Absolutely not. You can’t expect the examiner to give you marks for wasting his time. You need to keep the answers relevant instead of focusing on the length of the answers.

The key to writing a good answer is to write in a relevant, concise and data oriented manner.

Instead of beating around the bush, give the examiner a crisp answer which checks all the above mentioned points and you are sure to score good marks in the exam.

MYTH: You should only answer in bullet points

This has been mentioned by so many teachers so many times that students have started considering it a norm. And that is where they get wrong.Pick up the study material, go through it and check how many answers are written in complete bullet points.

Did you find any? If ICAI doesn’t write their answers in just bullet points then what makes you think they’d be interested in giving marks to answers written in bullet points? You need to write your answers in paragraphs with relevant keywords and use bullet points while you are giving some points.

A proper breakdown of answers in paragraphs, keywords, and bullet points is very important.

You need to start your answer with an introduction, tackle the problem asked in the question, use keywords, underline those keywords and end with a proper conclusion. That’s the key to write an impressive answer. And that is what’s going to fetch you good marks.

Can I Study Inter Audit on my own?

In one word, definitely. There’s no subject you can not study on your own.

You have the study materials, and all the other resources provided by the ICAI. So, you can surely study on your own.

But there’s a little more convenience when you take some outside help. And that’s why students take classes, to have that extra facilitation.

Whether you take classes or not you HAVE to study on your own. Teachers can only help you so much. They’ll give you guidance and show you a way. To walk on that path is something that you’ll have to do on your own.

Since Auditing is a relatively new subject, students take that extra set of help by taking coaching classes.

Now with the changing times, the options for the mode of classes have spread out so vastly. It’s all about your convenience now.

How to prepare CA Inter Audit through Self-Study

If you are someone who finds yourself asking, ‘how can i self study for CA Inter Audit?’ then this is the right place for you. Because I’m here to help you out.

First and foremost, if you have a plan for yourself then stick to it. No need to graze around the web to find answers. But if you are someone who doesn’t know where to start then keep reading.

The duration between when you register for CA Intermediate and when the coaching starts is an important period. 

You receive your CA Intermediate books from the ICAI. You get scared of the HUGE pile of books and freak out and decide to go for coaching because there is no way you can study those books on your own.

But the classes don’t start for another month, what do you do then?Irrespective of whether you have decided to take classes or opted for self studies, this one month is very crucial for you.

You should open the books and just give them a read. Consider it like being introduced to a new person.

You have to make them your friend. And there is no judgement in the very beginning. So, instead of trying to figure out what everything means, just give it a light read. Go through the chapters once without the burden of understanding.

How is this going to help you, you ask? Well, when you start your coaching and the teacher starts talking about the new words of Auditing you would not feel completely clueless. There will be some familiarity even if you don’t understand it completely.

And having that assurance is enough to make you actually enjoy a subject.

The first time you read it is not going to be the first time you are going to study Audit. Consider it a practice session before entering the real game.

When you start studying audit for the first time, start making notes too. Your self made notes are the ones which are going to help you in the final preparation for your exams.

Make charts, use mnemonics, try memory mapping. Basically do everything that you think works for you.

The questions in the study material should be learnt by heart. You should know them so well that even if someone asks you those questions in your sleep you can answer them. 

This is because a majority of the exam paper consists of these questions. So you should not just remember what the answer was but also how to present it. And it will only come with practice.

Which leads me to my second point. PRACTICE questions. Pick the questions and write down the answer. You don't have to be perfect in your first attempt. Just try to answer how much you remember.

Once you are done, match your answer with what's provided in the study material. See the points you missed.

Check if you actually have the knowledge to answer the question or not. This will make you realize whether you need to read the chapter again and if yes then which topics and with how much intensity.

For more tips on how to do self study for CA Inter Audit you can refer to the following blog-

Read | How to Score Good Marks in CA Intermediate Audit?

Since we are on this topic, let’s talk about some study hacks you can use to prepare for CA Inter Audit.

CA Inter Audit Study Hacks and Memory Hacks

The first thing you need to do before starting your studies is to let go of the notion that Audit is a difficult and boring subject. 

As we talked earlier, this mindset creates a mental block which stops you from developing an interest in the subject and makes it boring and hence difficult.

It’s all in your head and is because of what you keep hearing from people around you. If people are spreading any such negativity, it is important to cut them off.

1. It’s not as such a study hack for just CA Inter Audit but each and every subject out there. Try to develop interest in the subject and half of your problems will go away.
2. After you have gone through the chapters, and had a bird’s eye view as discussed above, start your actual studies.
3. The first time you are studying audit, give it your all. Try to memorize as much as you can in the first round of preparation itself.
4. Make your own notes while studying. Note down the key points, make charts, etc. in your own handwriting in a notebook. Writing something down helps in the better retention of the concept. And when you will look at it later on, it will be easier to understand too.
5. Try to visualize what you are studying. If it’s a concept, try to understand it with a real life example. When you put something in the form of a story, it stays with you longer.
6. Make a separate notebook for concepts. You can name it as a concept register. Write down all the important concepts in that notebook so that at the time of revision you can have all the concepts at a single place.
7. Try to use different coloured pens for different types of concepts. For example, if you are writing your audit notes in black ink, use red colour ink for SAs. Use another ink pen to write down case studies. By doing this you’ll be bifurcating your notes as you go and it will be easier to pick up topics at the time of revision.
8. Also, the more colours you use, the more interesting it becomes for your mind to understand the importance of different concepts and it helps in better retention of concept.
9. Solve the questions as you go. That is, once you complete a chapter, do all the questions related to that chapter as well. You should not just go through it in a glance, you should solve each and every question in your notebook just like we used to do in school.
10. Find as many questions as you can. Use Revision Test Papers, Mock Test Papers, Suggested Answers, Previous Year questions and note all of them down in your notebook. This will help you make a question bank of sorts of your own. Having all the questions at one place will help you at the time of exam.
11. Don’t think you will study two chapters and solve the questions of both the chapters together. That is not going to happen. It will pile up to a level that it will become a burden for you. Don’t let it reach that level. Finish the questions as you go.
12. CA Inter Audit exam consists of MCQs as well as Case Studies.You should not solve the questions in the chapters and avoid the MCQs and Case Studies. CA Inter Audit MCQs and Case Studies don't always have direct questions. You’ll realize the variety of questions when you solve them. So, always solve the MCQs and Case Studies along with the chapters.
13. The best way to memorize CA Inter Audit is through notes and constant revisions. You can not just study the chapter once and then open it at the time of exams next. You need to do multiple revisions.
14. You should do the first revision within the first twenty four hours of study. Second revision should be done within the first week. And the third revision should be done within the first month of your completion of the chapter. This will ensure that you don’t forget any of the concepts.
15. The most important component to score good marks in CA Inter Audit exam is revision. When you have already revised three times before your exams then the last revision will be a cakewalk. Keep your notes and concept register with you and you will be good to go.

Modes of Coaching Available for CA Inter Audit

If you think self-preparation for CA Inter Audit is too much and you will need some outside help, then by all means go for coaching classes.

Nowadays there are so many different modes of coaching available for CA students that it has become easier than ever to get guidance.

Majorly there are four modes of coaching available for CA Inter Audit, viz., Face to Face classes, Online Classes, Pen drive classes and app-based classes.

We will talk about each of them here with their pros and cons to help you decide which one suits best for your requirements.

Face to Face Classes

As the name suggests, these are the physical classrooms you attend in the presence of a teacher. I mean, I didn’t really need to explain that to you. That’s the way we have taken classes from the very beginning.

Pros of Face to Face Classes

• The biggest advantage of taking face to face classes is having the presence of a subject-matter expert who will help you focus in the class and avoid distractions.
• Face to face classes, at any given point, is more engaging as compared to any other mode.
• The coaching classes happen at a certain time and at a fixed place. This helps you make and follow a routine which is very important in clearing exams.
• Because there are a lot of other students in the class along with you, you get to see the competition you are going to face in the exams. This helps you study harder than you would on your own.
• Face to face classes are also very helpful when it comes to getting your doubts cleared. You get a doubt, you have a teacher present in front of you, and your doubts get cleared in real time. You don’t have to wait to get your doubts cleared.
  

Cons of Face to Face classes

• Face to face classes are usually a bit expensive. Because there are a lot of costs involved
• Missing one class can prove to be counter-productive in Face to Face classes. Whatever has been taught in the class is missed and the future related topics might be hard to understand.
• The commuting time to and fro is exorbitant. Skipping it and utilizing that time in preparation instead is a much practical idea.
• Pertaining to the current Covid-era, the face to face classes just can’t happen. There are restrictions from the government but your preparations can’t be dependent on these uncertain times. So, it's better to choose from the other options available to you

CA Inter Audit video lectures are also available in the market. They come in two forms - online classes and pendrive classes. We are going to talk about both below.

Online Classes

Online classes are the new normal. These are economical as well as practical.

For CA Inter Audit video lectures through online mode, all you need is a laptop or a phone, an internet connection and you are good to go.

Pros of Online classes

• You can learn in online classes as per your own convenience and at your own pace.
• The fees for online classes are much cheaper as compared to face to face classes.
• If you want to study at midnight, you can study at midnight. You can follow your own schedule.
• Is the teacher going too slow? Play the video at 2x speed. Going too fast? Slow it down to 0.75x speed. It’s completely up to you.
• You can watch as many classes as you want in a day. You can manage how and when you have to study.
• You are not bound by location. You can get a quality education wherever you are and don't have to spend extra money to go to big cities to get good education.
• There are usually more than one view available in whichever online classes you take. If you don't get your concepts cleared in the first watch, you can always go back and watch it again.
• You can always save one view from all the views you are given and use it at the time of revisions.

Cons of Online Classes

• With every online thing there is always scope of technical difficulties that can arise. If your teacher provides good technical support then this con can be eliminated.
• Poor connectivity is a major problem in online classes. You need to have a good internet connection without which you can’t watch the classes. If you are living in a less developed area connectivity issues may arise.
• You are the incharge of yourself. As much as it can be beneficial, it’s equally harmful if you are a procrastinator. It’s easy to waste your time when it comes to taking online classes.

The same goes for the pendrive classes. For a more detailed discussion on this topic, please refer to the blog linked below-

Read | How to Choose CA Intermediate Classes?

Pendrive Classes

Many teachers have come up with pendrive classes but Neeraj Arora sir remains to be the most experienced in this field. Pendrive classes can prove to be convenient if you live in an area with poor internet connectivity. 

Pendrive classes have all the benefits of online classes. It’s another popular option among the students.

CA Inter Audit Fast Track Classes

Different teachers provide fast track classes for CA Inter Audit wherein they teach or revise a limited number of chapters in a few classes covered over a week or two.

Should you go for fast track classes for CA Inter Audit?

If you are a student who is going to study Audit for the first time and thinking to go for a fast track class then please don't. You should take regular classes.

On the other hand, if you are a student who has already taken regular classes once but still you feel your concepts are not clear then you can go for the fast track classes.

Fast track classes are just for concept clarity and quick revision. You should analyze whether you actually need them or not.

For most of the revision videos for CA Inter Audit are available on YouTube. There are plenty of marathon videos and bullet revision videos on YouTube, you can go through them. 

If it works for you then you don't need to go for the fast track classes but if you still need it then you can go for it.

CA Inter Audit Best Faculty

The best teacher for CA Inter Audit is not just someone who can help you understand the topic, it is someone who helps you cram wherever required. 

You can’t just rely on your understanding of the topics, there are certain things you need to mention in your answers in order to get good marks. 

Your answers must contain the keywords and be written in the manner required by ICAI. That’s something you can not do just with the understanding of the topic. Cramming these things is important.

Our target when we give the exam is to clear it and score good marks. And contrary to what most of the people say, rattaficaton is mandatory.

So, in your search for a good teacher for CA Inter Audit, look for a faculty who can help you understand the topic as well as enable you to showcase that knowledge in the examination paper.

Qualities of a good teacher for CA Inter Audit

1. Engaging:
   Auditing and Assurance is a theoretical subject with the most practical knowledge. Because of which it might get boring sometimes. But a good teacher can eliminate this problem.
   Look for a teacher who keeps the class lively and engages the students with what he is teaching.
2. Conceptual Clarity
   If your concepts are not clear you can not pass your exams. That’s a fact. Hence, you need a teacher who can provide you with concept clarity.
   Audit can prove to be tricky sometimes. It's a new subject and the concepts are very technical.
3. Motivating
   Let’s collectively agree that we need a lot of that in the CA course. And when it comes to Auditing and Assurance, we need much more of it. A teacher must keep motivating students given the kind of subject Auditing is.
   When the huge syllabus starts seeming like a burden which you don't think you can bear, you need someone to motivate you and tell you that you can and also shows you how you can do that.
4. Availability
   Once you start studying CA Inter Audit, you are going to have a lot of doubts whether you are taking classes or not. You might understand the chapter when it is being taught but when you sit and start studying it on your own you will start having doubts.
   So, you need a teacher who is available for you.
5. Accessibility
   You might be a student with a lot of questions who always has his hands up in class to ask doubts.
   Or you can be a shy student who doesn’t like asking questions. And instead would sit in the corner of the class juggling with your doubts.
   In either case, you need a teacher who is accessible. A teacher who takes doubts after the end of the class or who provides their WhatsApp number in case you have doubts while studying at home.
   A teacher shouldn’t just give you these options but also make you comfortable enough to utilize these options.
   Easy accessibility is very important in the preparation of the CA course.
6. Simplified Manner
   Audit is a technical subject, so you need a teacher who can present it to you in a simplified manner.
   You can’t attempt the paper if you don't understand the concepts.
   And you can’t understand those technical concepts if they are not presented in an easy to understand manner.
   You can get all technical with fancy words and keywords once you have the conceptual understanding. A teacher should enable you to do both

Things to keep in mind while choosing a teacher for CA Inter Audit

1. Take demo classes
   Before finalizing a teacher you should always take some demo classes. See if the manner in which a particular teacher is teaching is suitable for you or not.
2. Research
   Almost all the teachers’ videos are available on YouTube these days. Go there, type the name and check the videos. See how you like it.
   You research for days before buying a smartphone or a laptop, do the same while choosing the teacher for auditing or any subject for that matter.
3. Reviews
   Go to google type the name of the teacher, check the reviews.
   Or, go to youtube, check the video of the teacher and along with that check the comments on the video.
   Open quora, check the reviews of the teacher in there.
   Ask around. From students who have already taken classes from the teachers. Take their feedback.
   Point being, always, ALWAYS, check the reviews before you decide to go for a particular teacher

For a detailed discussion on Things to keep in mind while choosing a teacher for CA Inter Audit, check out the following blog-

Read | How to choose CA Intermediate Audit Classes?

Best Teacher for CA Inter Audit

Well, there is no fixed definition of best. For some one teacher is best, for others it will be someone else. 

You need to figure out what and who fits best for you.Few of you would like a teacher who just talks about the subject and does not deviate from it. 

While others might consider a teacher who has a more engaging class, cracks few jokes here and there and keeps them motivated as the best teacher.Point is, the choice is completely yours.

Maybe your preferences will be different. There are a lot of teachers available in the market. You can take a few classes or watch a few demo videos to see which one is best for you.

Check out the benefits you are getting from different teachers, see if that matches your requirements and go for the one which best suits you.For us the best teacher is someone who has the qualities of a good teacher as mentioned above. And according to us, that is Neeraj Arora Sir.

Since we can not possibly go out to attend coaching classes, thanks to Covid-19, online classes are the best option for us.

And who better to take classes from than someone who has been in this field for the longest of time?

So, let’s talk about the benefits you’ll get if you take your classes from Neeraj Arora Sir, and see if he is the best for you.

Benefits of taking Audit classes from Neeraj Arora

1. Mock Test With Detailed Evaluation

Any exam preparation is incomplete without attempting Mock Tests. Mock tests help you understand in advance what marks you will be getting with the preparation you are having right now, and thereby, you can further improve your preparation

At Edu91 Neeraj sir provide mock test papers with detailed evaluation in all his classes. You will also receive evaluated answer sheets after attempting these mock tests which will help you understand your mistakes. 

Neeraj sir also provides suggested answers to students and try to give the marking scheme of the exams as well.

2. Live Doubt Sessions

In online classes, students always feel a lack of proper doubt support but Neeraj sir always try his best to resolve the doubts of his students

He takes live doubt sessions where he connects live on zoom with his students and resolves their doubts. 

Not only that he is also providing a community support system where the doubts of the students will be taken care of by the Neeraj sir and the students of the same batch

3. App-based as well as web-based classes

First off, you get the option of both App-based classes and web-based classes. You can choose which one to go for as per your convenience.

Can’t study on a mobile phone because of all the possible distractions? Go for web-based classes.

4. Affordable

Online classes from Neeraj Arora Sir are the only quality classes that are so affordable. While other teachers charge an exorbitant amount of money for classes, Neeraj Sir always keeps in mind the benefit of the students and the classes are super affordable.

5. Quality classes at the comfort of your home

With online classes, you don't have to travel miles to get the best education that is available out there. You can take the classes at the comfort of your home

6. Watch the classes at your own pace

Want to take only one class a day? Cool. Want to take 3 classes in a day? Sure! You are the one in-charge. You can study at your own pace and at your own speed.

7. Number of views

You get three views when you take classes from Sir. Watch two videos at the time of preparation, save one for the time of revision. It’s completely on you. You don’t have to take classes again and again and pay the fees every time.

8. Tech support

Just like the doubt support, the technical support provided by Edu91 is best in the field. Since they have been in this industry for the longest of time, Edu91 has the knowledge of all the possible problems that can arise and are always available to provide you with a solution.

9. Study in sync with ICAI

Neeraj sir’s classes as well as the notes provided by him are in sync with the material provided by the ICAI. He knows the importance of ICAI’s study material and makes sure to include it in his teaching and the notes as well.

10. Motivation

Just go to YouTube and watch his videos, you will get to know what I am talking about. He motivates you like no other. He knows how to connect with students and this works in his advantage. He has the ability to inspire you and make you aspire to become a better version of yourself.

11. Exam writing tips

Neeraj Sir gives you the best tips for exams. He provides you with the structure for answers and tells you the importance of keywords. There is so much more he tells you, go check the videos on YouTube.

12. Amazing notes

The notes provided contain so many charts and memory maps. Which are essential when we are talking about a subject like Auditing. Given you can only utilize them to their fullest when you take the classes. I mean, what more reasons do you need?

13. Perfect combination of concept clarity and Rattafication

As I mentioned before, you can’t go on and about with just concept clarity. If you can’t showcase it to the examiner, then what’s the point? Rattafication or mugging up is equally important. And that’s what Neeraj Sir promises to deliver. And he does deliver.

14. Shows how things work in the practical world

Along with the theoretical knowledge, he tells you how to apply and how is it applied in the practical world. He gives you the real life examples for a better understanding of the concept. He prepares you for both exams and the practical world.

Those were the class-related benefits you get if you take your classes from Neeraj Arora Sir. There are other benefits which are not related to class but are equally important, such as-

1. Important Life Lessons
   Neeraj Sir gives you important life lessons. It’s not something many teachers do, but that doesn’t make it any less important. He is the kind of person to look forward to. You don't just learn subjects from him, you learn how to live life.
2. Career Counseling
   There comes a time in every student's life where we don’t know what to do next. Whether whatever we are doing is really worth it. Sometimes we don't have any idea how to move forward in our careers. Neeraj Sir tries his best to help each and every student in the best way possible.
3. Ask the students who have taken classes from Neeraj Sir, or check the YouTube videos where students across the country call Neeraj Sir for help, they will vouch for it. Now that we have covered the faculty, let’s talk about the most crucial question, how to write answers in CA Inter Audit?

Check Out | CA Inter Audit Classes

How to Write Answers in CA Inter Audit?

As we have mentioned time and again, you can not score good marks in CA Inter Audit if you don’t know how to write the answers in the audit exam.

Knowledge matters, but how you are presenting that knowledge matters more. And CA Inter Audit is all about the presentation.

So, let’s answer this most asked question, and rightly so, how to write answers in CA Inter Audit?

1. Question Number in the centre
   First thing first, always, ALWAYS, write the question number on the centre top. Some students write the question number in the corner which should be completely avoided.
   You don't need to waste the examiner’s time in figuring out which answer you are writing. When it comes to a well presented answer, this becomes very important.
2. Use para-points
   As we have said before, avoid answering in points until it is asked. Always use para-points. Write in small paragraphs and use pointers wherever asked or necessary.
3. Don't use pointers unless necessary
   You can use the pointers where the question has asked for a process, advantages, limitations, etc. But don’t answer all the questions in pointers. For example, suppose the question has asked for inherent limitation of internal control, then you can answer in points.
4. Fresh answer, fresh page
   Always start the fresh answer from a fresh page. Even if you have plenty of space left in the previous page, do not start a new answer mid-page.
5. Use charts
   Charts make your answers look more impressive. Use charts wherever you can to create a bigger and more positive impact.
6. Correct/Incorrect
   While answering the correct and incorrect answers, you should start with whether the statement is correct or incorrect. Mention it on the top and lead with the relevant SA.
   For example, if the question relates to ‘written representation’, start your first paragraph with SA 580 ‘written representation’. First paragraph should include the content of the relevant SA.
   Then, the next paragraph should pick the statement and explain in relation to the SA why the statement is correct or incorrect, as the case may be.
   Correct or Incorrect is a highly scoring section and you can get good marks if you follow these tips and can improve your overall score.
7. Vouching and verification questions
   In vouching and verification questions don’t just start answering like check bank balance, check receipts, etc. The first thing you need to do is give a brief introduction or meaning of the topic asked.
   For example, if the question is to vouch/verify rental receipts, first of all tell what rental receipt is. And then use points on how to do vouching and verification of rental receipts.
   The best source to understand the presentation of vouching and verification is ICAI’s suggested answers or Revision Test Papers (RTPs).
   

If you keep the above-mentioned things in mind and write the answer paper in the exact same manner, you’ll increase your chances of scoring good marks in the Auditing exam.

You have everything you need for your upcoming CA Inter Audit exam preparation at your fingertips. It is time for you to stop making excuses and start with the execution. 

If you are looking for guidance for your upcoming CA Inter Audit exam check out Auditing classes at Edu91.

Right now Mega Sale is live on Edu91 where you can grab the CA Inter Auditing classes at up to 65% OFF. 

Grab this offer and enjoy the quality classes at the most affordable prices and increase your chances of clearing your exams with flying colours

All the best and God bless you all!