Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) Practice Exam

What is the purpose of validity tests in information technology input controls?

1. To ensure all data is processed correctly.

2. To confirm that data meets specified criteria.

3. To generate automated verification messages.

4. To guarantee the completeness of transaction logs.

The correct answer is: To confirm that data meets specified criteria.

The purpose of validity tests in information technology input controls is to confirm that data meets specified criteria. These tests are designed to check the appropriateness and accuracy of inputs by ensuring that the data adheres to defined standards or rules. This means validating that incoming data is correct in format, type, and value before it is processed, which ultimately helps to ensure that the information system operates efficiently and accurately. For instance, a validity test might check whether a date input conforms to a required format (such as MM/DD/YYYY) or whether an identification number consists of the correct number of digits. By performing these tests, organizations can catch errors at the input stage, which helps maintain the integrity and reliability of the data being processed. In relation to the other choices, while ensuring all data is processed correctly is important, this is more a function of overall system reliability rather than specifically the role of validity tests. Generating automated verification messages may be a feature of some systems but does not directly pertain to the validity check itself. Finally, guaranteeing the completeness of transaction logs is addressed through other types of controls, such as completeness checks, rather than validity tests.