The Ultimate SA Cheat Sheet: SA 200 to SA 799 Summarized for CA Final
Let’s be honest—Audit is the subject that gives most CA Final students sleepless nights.
It’s not just about understanding the concepts; it’s the pressure of remembering 30+ Standards on Auditing (SAs), their numbers, and their specific objectives. You memorize them today, and they vanish from your brain by tomorrow. Sound familiar?
At Zeroinfy, we believe smart work beats hard work. That’s why we advocate for "chunking"—breaking the vast syllabus down into a logical process flow.
Introducing the "GREUC" Strategy
Instead of trying to memorize a list of 35 distinct numbers in isolation, visualize the Standards on Auditing as a lifecycle. We call this the GREUC approach.
As shown in the chart above, the Standards follow a logical story:
- G – General Principles
- R – Risk Assessment
- E – Evidence
- U – Using Work of Others
- C – Conclusion & Reporting
How to Use This Cheat Sheet
This image isn't just for looking at; it's a revision tool. Here is the breakdown of the 5 Power Buckets:
1. General Principles (Blue Zone - SA 200-299)
Start here. These are your foundations—Objectives, Terms, and Fraud responsibilities.
- Key Focus: SA 210 (Terms of Engagement) and SA 240 (Fraud). If you don't know the ground rules, you can't play the game.
2. Risk Assessment (Green Zone - SA 300-499)
Before you check the numbers, you must check the risks.
- Key Focus: SA 315 (Identifying Risks) and SA 320 (Materiality). This is the planning phase where you determine what needs to be audited.
3. Audit Evidence (Purple Zone - SA 500-599)
The core of your work. This is the "fieldwork" phase where you gather proof.
- Key Focus: This is the largest chunk. Master SA 505 (External Confirmations), SA 530 (Sampling), and SA 570 (Going Concern).
4. Using Work of Others (Orange Zone - SA 600-699)
Smart auditors don't do everything alone. This section covers relying on Internal Auditors (SA 610) or Experts (SA 620).
- Exam Tip: ICAI loves asking questions on the coordination between the Principal Auditor and the Other Auditor (SA 600).
5. Conclusion & Reporting (Red Zone - SA 700-799)
The finish line. This covers how you form an opinion based on the evidence you collected in the Purple and Orange zones.
- Key Focus: Understanding the difference between SA 700 (Clean Report), SA 705 (Modified Opinion), and SA 706 (EOM/OM Paragraphs).
Zeroinfy’s Pro-Tip for Exam Day
Contextual Memory is a psychological trick. Don't try to remember "SA 530" in a void. Remember it as part of the "Purple Zone" (Evidence).
Action Step: Save the image above to your phone. Set it as your wallpaper for this week. Every time you unlock your phone, glance at one color column. By the end of the week, the structure will be printed in your memory.
Still Finding Audit Tough?
Visual aids are great, but sometimes you need an expert to guide you through the deep technicalities of these Standards.
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