All 18 Audit Sampling questions
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What factors affect sample size? What is tolerable misstatement and tolerable rate of deviation? What is stratification and why is it used? How do you evaluate the results of a control test sample? How does reliance on internal controls affect substantive sample sizes? What is monetary unit sampling (MUS) and when is it used? How do you project (extrapolate) misstatements from a sample? What do you do when a sample reveals a misstatement or deviation? What is attribute sampling versus variables sampling? What are the limitations and risks of relying on sampling?
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Auditing & Assurance › Audit Sampling

When is 100% testing or specific-item selection used instead of sampling?

Intermediate

Answer

Test 100% when the population is small, each item is high value, or a significant risk warrants it and data analytics make full testing feasible. Specific-item selection targets particular items (all items over a threshold, unusual or suspicious items, or items for information)—but testing selected items isn't sampling because conclusions don't extend to the rest of the population.
Real-world example The auditor tests all ten material journal entries individually rather than sampling, given their size and risk.

Common follow-ups: Does specific-item testing let you conclude on the whole population? | When is 100% testing efficient?

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All 18 Audit Sampling questions