CPA Exam Lab
All patterns
Evidence and assertions

The Confirmation Play

Positive or negative depends on risk and balance size, and non-responses trigger a fixed next step.

How the exam words it

The playbook

  1. 1Use negative confirmations only when risk is low, balances are many and small, and responses are expected, otherwise use positive confirmations.
  2. 2For non-responses to positive confirmations, send a second request, then perform alternative procedures.
  3. 3If management blocks a confirmation, evaluate the reason, perform alternative procedures, and reassess risk.

The trap

Confusing positive and negative confirmations, or accepting a non-response as agreement. A negative non-response is not evidence of correctness.

How the exam varies it

The same pattern, re-skinned along these axes:

Positive versus negative choiceLow risk and small balances versus high risk and large balancesNon-response versus management refusal

Drill this pattern

8 questions of The Confirmation Play from across the AUD topics. Clear it by getting 5 right with a streak of 3.

Shows up in 2 AUD topics