CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
A router has a directly connected route to 10.1.1.0/24 and a static default route. Which route is used for traffic to 10.1.1.200?
⚠ Common exam trap
A frequent exam trap is selecting the static default route for traffic destined to an IP address within a directly connected subnet. Candidates might incorrectly believe the default route overrides connected routes due to its static configuration or because it is manually set. However, the router always prefers the most specific route, which is the directly connected subnet in this case. Misunderstanding the longest prefix match and administrative distance hierarchy leads to this error. Remember, the default route is only a fallback when no other route matches the destination IP address.
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 directly connected 10.1.1.0/24 route
The directly connected route is used because it is the most specific and most immediate match. In practical terms, the router already knows that 10.1.1.200 belongs to a network on one of its own interfaces, so there is no reason to use the default route. The default route exists only for destinations that do not match anything more specific. This is one of the most fundamental route-selection behaviors in IP routing.
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 directly connected 10.1.1.0/24 route
Why this is correct
The directly connected 10.1.1.0/24 route is selected because routers perform a longest prefix match when forwarding packets. The destination 10.1.1.1 falls within the 10.1.1.0/24 subnet, which has a 24-bit prefix, making it more specific than any default route. Since the connected route is present in the routing table, it takes precedence over less specific routes.
- ✗
The static default route
Why it's wrong here
The static default route is not used because a default route is only a match of last resort, with a prefix length of /0. When a more specific route exists, such as 10.1.1.0/24, the router prefers the longer prefix. The default route only applies if no other route with a longer prefix matches the destination.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that the router had no directly connected routes and only a static default route configured to route all traffic, then the static default route would be the correct answer for traffic to 10.1.1.200.
- ✗
Both routes equally
Why it's wrong here
The router cannot use both routes equally because the forwarding decision is based on a single best route determined by the longest prefix match algorithm. The connected route with a /24 mask is more specific than the default /0 route, so it uniquely wins. There is no load-balancing or equal-cost path selection here, as the prefix lengths differ.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where both routes have the same administrative distance and the router is configured to load balance traffic, a question might ask which routes are used for traffic to a specific destination. In that case, both routes could be considered equally valid for routing decisions.
- ✗
Neither route
Why it's wrong here
The claim that neither route matches is false because the destination address 10.1.1.x is clearly within the directly connected 10.1.1.0/24 subnet. This route is present in the routing table and matches the destination. Therefore, a valid route exists, ruling out the possibility of no match.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the router has no directly connected routes and only a static default route configured, a question asking about traffic to an unreachable IP address (e.g., 10.2.2.200) would make this option correct, as the default route would be the only available path.
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 directly connected 10.1.1.0/24 routeCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The directly connected 10.1.1.0/24 route is selected because routers perform a longest prefix match when forwarding packets. The destination 10.1.1.1 falls within the 10.1.1.0/24 subnet, which has a 24-bit prefix, making it more specific than any default route. Since the connected route is present in the routing table, it takes precedence over less specific routes.
✗The static default routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The static default route is used only when there is no more specific route available for the destination. Since 10.1.1.200 falls within the directly connected 10.1.1.0/24 network, the default route is not used.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that the router had no directly connected routes and only a static default route configured to route all traffic, then the static default route would be the correct answer for traffic to 10.1.1.200.
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 considering the specificity of the directly connected route that applies in this scenario.
✗Both routes equallyWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because a router will prioritize the directly connected route over the static default route for traffic to 10.1.1.200, as directly connected routes have the highest administrative distance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where both routes have the same administrative distance and the router is configured to load balance traffic, a question might ask which routes are used for traffic to a specific destination. In that case, both routes could be considered equally valid for routing decisions.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of routing priorities, thinking that multiple routes can be used simultaneously without recognizing that directly connected routes take precedence.
✗Neither routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because the router has a directly connected route to 10.1.1.0/24, which means it can reach 10.1.1.200 directly without needing to use the default route.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the router has no directly connected routes and only a static default route configured, a question asking about traffic to an unreachable IP address (e.g., 10.2.2.200) would make this option correct, as the default route would be the only available path.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option if they mistakenly believe that a default route is always used when a specific route is not explicitly defined, overlooking the presence of a directly connected route.
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
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Interpreting HSRP and VRRP Operational Status
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.
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.
About these practice questions
This 200-301 question is part of Courseiva's 1,389-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.