CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
A router has a connected route to 192.168.1.0/24 and also has a default route. Which route is used for traffic to 192.168.1.55?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common exam trap is assuming that the default route will be used for all traffic not explicitly configured, including traffic destined for directly connected subnets. Candidates may mistakenly select the default route because it appears as a fallback path, ignoring that connected routes always take precedence due to their specificity and administrative distance. Another trap is thinking that both routes could be used simultaneously or load-balanced, which is incorrect because the router selects only the best matching route based on prefix length and administrative distance.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The connected route to 192.168.1.0/24
The connected route is used because it is both directly attached and more specific than the default route. In plain language, the router already knows that the destination belongs to one of its local interface networks, so it has no reason to send that traffic to a fallback route. This is one of the most basic route-selection behaviors. Default routes matter only when no better match exists. Here, a directly connected, exact matching network is already present.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The connected route to 192.168.1.0/24
Why this is correct
This is correct because the destination falls within the directly connected subnet.
- ✗
The default route
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because a more specific connected route exists.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that the router had no connected routes and only a default route configured, then the default route would be used for any traffic, including to 192.168.1.55. This would make option B the correct answer.
- ✗
Both routes equally
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the connected route is clearly preferred.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a router has two equal-length routes to the same destination, such as two connected routes to 192.168.1.0/24 and 192.168.1.0/24 with different interfaces, the router might use both routes equally for load balancing, making this option correct.
- ✗
Neither route
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the connected route clearly matches.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where the router has no valid routes for the destination IP address, such as when the connected route is down or misconfigured, and the default route is not set up to handle that specific traffic.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The connected route to 192.168.1.0/24Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because the destination falls within the directly connected subnet.
✗The default routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The default route is used only when there are no more specific routes available. Since the router has a connected route to 192.168.1.0/24, it will use this more specific route for traffic to 192.168.1.55.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that the router had no connected routes and only a default route configured, then the default route would be used for any traffic, including to 192.168.1.55. This would make option B the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option if they misunderstand the concept of routing priorities, thinking that the default route is always used for all traffic unless specified otherwise, leading them to overlook the specificity of connected routes.
✗Both routes equallyWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because a router will prioritize the more specific connected route (192.168.1.0/24) over the default route when determining the best path for traffic to 192.168.1.55.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a router has two equal-length routes to the same destination, such as two connected routes to 192.168.1.0/24 and 192.168.1.0/24 with different interfaces, the router might use both routes equally for load balancing, making this option correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of routing priorities, believing that multiple routes can be used simultaneously without considering the specificity of the routes.
✗Neither routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because the router has a connected route to 192.168.1.0/24, which is more specific than the default route, making it the preferred choice for traffic to 192.168.1.55.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where the router has no valid routes for the destination IP address, such as when the connected route is down or misconfigured, and the default route is not set up to handle that specific traffic.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of routing priorities, mistakenly believing that a default route would be used even when a more specific connected route exists.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
IPv4 Address Class Summary
| Class | First Octet Range | Default Mask | Networks | Hosts per Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1–126 | /8 (255.0.0.0) | 126 | 16,777,214 |
| B | 128–191 | /16 (255.255.0.0) | 16,384 | 65,534 |
| C | 192–223 | /24 (255.255.255.0) | 2,097,152 | 254 |
| D | 224–239 | N/A | Multicast groups | — |
| E | 240–255 | N/A | Reserved / experimental | — |
127.x.x.x is reserved for loopback. Modern networks use CIDR (classless) rather than classful addressing.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Interpreting HSRP and VRRP Operational Status
Key term
Connected route
A connected route is a network path that a router knows about automatically because it has a network interface directly connected to that network.
Key term
Default route
A default route is a catch-all routing entry that tells a network device where to send packets when no specific route matches the destination address.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.