CPA Exam Lab
All patterns
Opinions and reports

The Extra Paragraph

Emphasis-of-matter, other-matter, and key audit matters each have a distinct job, and none changes the opinion.

How the exam words it

The playbook

  1. 1Emphasis-of-matter points to something properly presented in the statements, other-matter points to something outside them, such as a predecessor's report.
  2. 2Key audit matters describe the matter, why it mattered, and how it was addressed, and are reported when the auditor is engaged to do so.
  3. 3None of these modifies the opinion, and the report is dated when sufficient appropriate evidence was obtained.

The trap

Treating an emphasis-of-matter paragraph as a modified opinion. It draws attention without changing the opinion.

How the exam varies it

The same pattern, re-skinned along these axes:

Emphasis-of-matter versus other-matter versus key audit matterWithin the statements versus outside themWhich paragraph, or the report date

Drill this pattern

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

Shows up in 2 AUD topics