Q. How will IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) and ISA (International Standards on Auditing) be tested on the 2011 CPA Exam?

　　A. According to the AICPA, IFRS and IAS will be tested in three of the four sections on the 2011 CPA exam - Audit (AUD), Financial (FAR), and Business (BEC).

　　In FAR, candidates sitting for the exam should be expected to identify and understand the differences between financial statements prepared under US GAAP and under IFRS. Additionally, first-time adoption of IFRS related to financial reporting, presentation and disclosures in general-purpose financial statements will be tested.

　　In AUD, candidates should be expected to demonstrate knowledge and awareness of the following;

　　· International Auditing & Assurance Board (IAASB) - role in establishing International Standards on Auditing (ISAs)

　　· Differences between ISAs and US Auditing Standards

　　· International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) - role in establishing International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.

　　· Related independence requirements when auditing a U.S. company that supports an audit report based on auditing standards of another country, or ISAs.

　　In BEC, candidates should be expected to demonstrate an understanding of globalization on the business environment as well as be able to explain the underlying economic substance of transactions and their accounting implications. Note that IFRS will only be tested in the written communication section in BEC.