Welcome to your IRAS - CSAP AA1000AS Module C Pre-Test 1. Fill in the blanks using the correct words from the list below: The AA1000AS v3 provides a __________ way of holding an organisation __________ for its sustainability management, performance, and reporting practices by assessing the __________ of the organisation to the AA1000AP (2018). holistic, accountable, adherence partial, respectful, understanding basic, accountable, transparency reasonable, mindful, understanding None 2. The AA1000AS v3 is also useful to internal audit and annual or financial reporting functions of organisations, as well as to users of sustainability Assurance Statements such as rating agencies, external stakeholders, and other standards developers. True False None 3. The AA1000AS v3 is an independent framework that can work to cater for all assurance processes and cannot be used to complement other internationally recognised frameworks. True False None 4. What are the preconditions for providing assurance? Independence & Impartiality, Practitioner Competence and Engagement Agreement Tasks and Activities, Evidence Gathering, Scheduling and Resource Requirements Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability, Due Care, Sustainability Performance Information Inclusivity, Materiality, Responsiveness and Impact All of the above None of the above None 5. AA100AS v3 can be applied to various digital reporting formats. What are some of the dangers of assurance of information in digital formats? Organisations won’t be able to determine what information should be assured. Material issues can be ignored. Unless copies of the assured information are made, the information will be lost. Subsequent edits can be made to already assured information. None 6. Fill in the blanks using the correct words from the list below: To ensure there is no __________ with the reporting organisation and/or its significant stakeholders, the assurance provider should assess its own capacity for __________ and __________. connection, understanding, preparedness hopelessness, employees, customers conflict of interest, independence, impartiality conflict of interest, problems, solutions None 7. Assurance practitioners as well any relevant experts involved in the assurance engagement are at minimum required to be competent in. Select from the following list the one that doesn’t apply. The accountability principles Application of reporting and assurance practices and standards Sustainability subject matter Stakeholder engagement All of the above None of the above None 8. Fill in the blanks using the correct words from the list below: The Assurance Statement must reflect the __________ and __________ of the reporting organisation and assurance provider as agreed upon in the engagement agreement and applied in the engagement plan. The disclosed responsibilities will assist report users in determining the extent to which any activities that have been carried out may affect the __________ or assessment of the assurance provider. happiness, expectations, usefulness expectations, responsibilities, independence independence, confidence, accuracy expectations, responsibilities, independence None 9. Select from the following list of appropriate institutional competencies of the assurance provider that is not valid. Assurance oversight mechanisms to ensure high quality Understanding of the legal implications of the assurance process Adequate infrastructure systems to ensure high quality delivery of service Sufficient recruitment and training capabilities to employ qualified people All of the above None of the above None 10. The following information is required in what document: intended users of the assurance statement, responsibilities of the reporting organisation and assurance provider, reference to criteria used and description of method. An Integrated Annual Report An Assurance statement An engagement All disclosures All of the above None of the above None 11. An assurance provider shall accept an assurance engagement only if it possesses the necessary competencies to deliver all aspects of the assurance engagement. True False None 12. Which of the following is not a level of CSAP qualification? Associate CSAP (ACSAP) Practitioner CSAP (PCSAP) Responsible CSAP (RCSAP) Lead CSAP (LCSAP) None 13. The AA1000AS v3 provides a holistic way of holding an organisation accountable for its sustainability management, performance, and reporting practices by assessing the adherence of the organisation to the AA1000AP (2018). True or False? True False None 14. Fill in the blanks using the correct words from the list below: Intended to go well beyond simple data verification, the AA1000AS v3 focuses on the processes required for responsible and complete assurance engagements based on the AA1000AP (2018) principles of __________, __________, __________ and __________. inclusivity, materiality, responsiveness, impact Inclusivity, competence, affect, effect accuracy, consistency, completeness, reliability planning, preparing, implementing, reviewing None 15. A Report to Management should not communicate materially different findings, conclusions, and recommendations than those stated in the publicly available Assurance Statement. True False None 16. The difference between a type 1 and type 2 assurance engagement is that while Type 1 assurance tests for adherence to the accountability principles, Type 2 assurance only tests for the reliability and quality of performance data. True False None 17. Unlike a moderate level of assurance, a high level of assurance is that the amount of evidence required to support assurance conclusions must be sufficient rather than limited. True False None 18. Fill in the blanks using the correct words from the list below: Fundamental requirements for high-quality sustainability assurance according to the AA1000AS v3 revolve broadly around three areas: Meeting preconditions and considering __________ when an assurance engagement is accepted. Conducting an __________ according to robust processes and practices implemented in a credible, legitimate, and transparent manner. Issuing an __________ with conclusions that accurately reflect the state of affairs and, if agreed upon in the engagement agreement, preparing a Report to Management that is materially consistent with the conclusions in the Assurance Statement. costs, risk assessment, engagement letter competencies, cost-benefit analysis, invoice risks, independence assessment, assurance management report suitable criteria, assurance engagement, assurance statement None 19. Why is independence and impartiality important in an assurance engagement? It provides an unbiased assurance statement and audit process as well as to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. Stakeholders think it is useful in determining whether the information in the report is accurate. It provides investors confidence in the value of the company. It ensures that the assurance provider has the required skills and abilities to conduct assurance. All of the above None of the above None 20. What is the importance of practitioner competence? Without it, stakeholders would be able to sue the organisation for breach of trust. It limits the assurance provider to only being able to assure reports for companies in their field of expertise. It allows users of the assurance statement to determine which of the four AccountAbility AA Principles can be used. It provides the client with comfort that the assurance engagement will be conducted with the necessary skills and expertise. All of the above None of the above None 21. What is the importance of an engagement agreement? It determines how much an engagement should cost. It details the key information that will be required to conduct the assurance engagement. It ensures that the assurance statement can be completed in a reasonable amount of time. It limits the assurance provider to only the information the organisation wants assured. None 22. Which of the following things is not required in an assurance statement? Intended users of the Assurance Statement Responsibilities of the reporting organisation and assurance provider Reference to the AA1000AS v3 and other assurance standard(s), if used Description of the scope, subject matter, the type, and level of assurance provided Reference to criteria used Description and sources of disclosures covered Description of methodology Limitations and approach used to mitigate limitations Notes on the independence and competencies of the assurance provider Name of the assurance provider Date and place All of the above None of the above None 23. The following criteria applies to which of the four AA1000AP principles? Under the governance of senior management, including key cross-functional involvement, implement a process for developing responses related to material topics and communicating them to stakeholders that is applied across the organisation. Integrate this process into the organisation, including through relevant organisational processes, such as risk management, compliance and strategy development. Provide the necessary competencies and resources to respond appropriately to material topics, using a range of response types Inclusivity Materiality Responsiveness Impact All of the above None of the above None 24. Which of the following is not one of the three performance measures of the AA1000 standards? Impact Likelihood Outcome Output None 25. Which of the following criteria is not used by assurance providers to assess an organisation’s enactment of the Principle of Materiality: Commitment, integration & capacity building Materiality determination Communication Responsiveness None 26. Assurance practitioner competence at a minimum does not include: Application of Reporting and Assurance practices and standards. Sustainability subject matter (including the specific subject matter of the engagement). The Accountability Principles. No less than a master’s degree in sustainability. None 27. The scope of the assurance engagement should include the reporting boundary. True False None 28. Fill in the blanks using the correct words from the list below: When determining the __________ of an engagement, the boundary should transcend the financial reporting boundary considering other material __________ relating to other __________. cost, issues, affordability scope, impacts, stakeholders impacts, issues, problems effectiveness, impacts, projects None 29. An assurance provider can be deemed independent regardless of whether they have written the report being assured, as long as their responsibilities are clearly stated in the assurance statement. True False None 30. Completion of Module C of AccountAbility’s, the learner can immediately apply for what level of CSAP without providing a history of related experience? Associate Lead Practitioner Professional None 1 out of 30
