CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
A router has a default route and a specific route to 203.0.113.0/24. Which route is used for traffic to 203.0.113.25?
⚠ Common exam trap
Remember that the router always prefers the most specific route, not the default route, when a specific match is available.
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 specific route to 203.0.113.0/24
The specific route to 203.0.113.0/24 is used because it is a more specific match than the default route. In plain language, even though the default route could technically match almost anything, the router always prefers a route that more precisely describes the destination network. Since 203.0.113.25 is inside 203.0.113.0/24, that route wins under longest-prefix match. This is one of the most basic routing-table interpretation rules. The default route remains important as a fallback, but it is not chosen when a more specific valid route exists.
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 specific route to 203.0.113.0/24
Why this is correct
This is correct because it is more specific than the default route.
- ✗
The default route
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the default route is used only when no more specific route matches.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that the router only had a default route and no specific routes, then the default route would be used for all traffic, including to 203.0.113.25. This would make option B the correct answer.
- ✗
Both routes are always load-balanced
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because that is not the default behavior simply because both routes exist.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question where multiple routes to the same destination exist and the router is configured to use equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, the answer could be correct if the question specifies that both routes are valid and can be utilized simultaneously for load balancing.
- ✗
Neither route because defaults cannot coexist with specific routes
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because defaults commonly coexist with more specific routes.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a question states that the router is configured to only accept one route type at a time, and it explicitly mentions that specific routes override default routes, this option would be correct.
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 specific route to 203.0.113.0/24Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because it is more specific than the default route.
✗The default routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The default route is used for traffic to destinations not explicitly defined in the routing table. Since there is a specific route to 203.0.113.0/24, that route will take precedence for traffic to 203.0.113.25.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that the router only had a default route and no specific routes, then the default route would be used for all traffic, including to 203.0.113.25. This would make option B the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly believe that the default route is a catch-all for all traffic, leading them to choose it without fully considering the presence of a specific route that takes precedence.
✗Both routes are always load-balancedWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because routing protocols do not load-balance traffic between a specific route and a default route; the more specific route will always take precedence for matching traffic.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question where multiple routes to the same destination exist and the router is configured to use equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, the answer could be correct if the question specifies that both routes are valid and can be utilized simultaneously for load balancing.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of routing principles, believing that multiple routes can be used simultaneously for the same destination without recognizing the precedence of specific routes over default routes.
✗Neither route because defaults cannot coexist with specific routesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because default routes can coexist with specific routes; the router will prioritize the specific route to 203.0.113.0/24 for traffic to 203.0.113.25.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a question states that the router is configured to only accept one route type at a time, and it explicitly mentions that specific routes override default routes, this option would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of routing principles, believing that specific routes cannot coexist with default routes, leading to confusion about how routing tables function.
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
OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
Key term
Route
A route is a path that data takes through a network from one device or network to another, determined by routing protocols and configured rules.
Key term
Router
A router is a networking device that connects different networks together and directs data traffic between them by choosing the best path for data to travel.
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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.