The static /25 route is the correct choice because longest prefix match route selection dictates that the router will always use the most specific, or longest, subnet mask that matches the destination IP. For traffic to 192.168.1.200, the /25 mask (255.255.255.128) covers a narrower range of addresses than the /24, so it wins regardless of the routing protocol’s administrative distance. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this concept tests your understanding that the router first performs a longest prefix match on all routes in the routing table before considering protocol trustworthiness; a common trap is assuming OSPF’s lower administrative distance automatically overrides a static route. Remember the key rule: prefix length beats administrative distance every time. A helpful memory tip is “longest mask wins the task”—the router cares only about how many bits match, not which protocol advertised the route.
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: the router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A route to 192.168.1.0/24 appears in the routing table from OSPF, but a more specific static route to 192.168.1.128/25 is also configured. Which route is used for traffic to 192.168.1.200?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The static /25 route
The static /25 route is used because longest-prefix match prefers the most specific matching route. In plain language, even though the OSPF /24 route covers the destination, the /25 static route covers a narrower range and therefore wins for addresses inside that upper half of the subnet.
The router does not begin by asking which protocol is more trusted unless the prefix lengths are equal among the matching routes.
Key principle: The router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address.
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 OSPF /24 route
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the /24 is less specific than the matching /25 route.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the static route to 192.168.1.128/25 is removed or not configured, and only the OSPF /24 route exists, then traffic to 192.168.1.200 would use the OSPF route. The question would specify that only the OSPF route is available.
✓
The static /25 route
Why this is correct
This is correct because 192.168.1.200 falls within 192.168.1.128/25.
Related concept
The router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address.
✗
Both routes automatically load-balance
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because they are not equal-prefix equal-cost routes in the needed sense.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question setup where both routes are of equal prefix length (e.g., two static routes with the same subnet mask), the exam could ask about load balancing between them, making this option correct as both would be used for traffic.
✗
Neither route because the network overlaps
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because overlapping routes are normal when specificity resolves the choice.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the question states that both routes are configured but the static route is disabled or has a lower administrative distance than OSPF, then the OSPF route would be used, making option D 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 static /25 routeCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because 192.168.1.200 falls within 192.168.1.128/25.
✗The OSPF /24 routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The OSPF /24 route is less specific than the static /25 route. Since 192.168.1.200 falls within the /25 subnet, the router will use the most specific matching route, which is the static /25 route.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the static route to 192.168.1.128/25 is removed or not configured, and only the OSPF /24 route exists, then traffic to 192.168.1.200 would use the OSPF route. The question would specify that only the OSPF route is available.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that because OSPF is a dynamic routing protocol, it takes precedence over static routes, or they may confuse administrative distance with prefix length.
✗Both routes automatically load-balanceWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Load balancing only occurs when there are multiple routes with the same prefix length and equal administrative distance/metric. Here, the routes have different prefix lengths (/24 vs /25), so they are not equal and cannot load-balance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question setup where both routes are of equal prefix length (e.g., two static routes with the same subnet mask), the exam could ask about load balancing between them, making this option correct as both would be used for traffic.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that any two routes to the same destination network will automatically load-balance, not realizing that the routes must be identical in prefix length and have equal cost.
✗Neither route because the network overlapsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Overlapping routes are common in routing tables; the router selects the most specific match. The presence of overlapping routes does not prevent the router from using either route; it simply uses the longest prefix match.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the question states that both routes are configured but the static route is disabled or has a lower administrative distance than OSPF, then the OSPF route would be used, making option D correct.
Why candidates choose this
Students might believe that overlapping routes cause a conflict or error, similar to overlapping IP addresses on interfaces, but routing tables handle overlapping prefixes by longest match.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is assuming that the routing protocol with the lower administrative distance or higher trustworthiness automatically wins, regardless of prefix length. Candidates may incorrectly choose the OSPF /24 route because OSPF is a dynamic protocol and often trusted. However, the router always applies the longest-prefix match rule first, so the more specific static /25 route is preferred. Overlapping routes are normal and do not cause routing conflicts; the router simply forwards packets based on the most specific match. Misunderstanding this can lead to selecting the wrong answer and missing the core routing principle tested here.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Routing tables use the longest-prefix match rule to determine the best path for forwarding packets. This means the router selects the route with the most specific subnet mask that matches the destination IP address. In this scenario, the static route to 192.168.1.128/25 is more specific than the OSPF-learned route to 192.168.1.0/24 because /25 covers a smaller range of IP addresses, making it a longer prefix.
When multiple routes to the same destination exist, routers first compare prefix lengths to find the longest match. If multiple routes have the same prefix length, the router then considers administrative distance and metric to choose the best path. Here, since the static route has a longer prefix (/25 vs /24), it is preferred regardless of the routing protocol or administrative distance.
A common exam trap is assuming that routing protocol trustworthiness or administrative distance alone determines the chosen route. However, the longest-prefix match rule always applies first. Overlapping routes are normal in routing tables, and the router uses prefix specificity to resolve which route to use. Practically, this ensures traffic to 192.168.1.200, which falls within the /25 subnet, uses the static route, providing more precise control over routing behavior.
KKey Concepts to Remember
The router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address.
A static route with a /25 prefix is more specific than an OSPF route with a /24 prefix and is therefore preferred for matching traffic.
Routing protocols like OSPF advertise routes but do not override the longest-prefix match rule when a more specific static route exists.
Administrative distance is only considered when multiple routes have the same prefix length and destination network.
Overlapping routes in the routing table are normal and resolved by choosing the route with the longest subnet mask.
Traffic destined for 192.168.1.200 matches the static 192.168.1.128/25 route because the IP falls within that subnet range.
Static routes provide precise routing control and can override dynamic routing entries when they have a longer prefix.
Routers do not load-balance between routes of different prefix lengths, even if both routes exist in the routing table.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
The router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review the router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — The router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The static /25 route — The static /25 route is used because longest-prefix match prefers the most specific matching route. In plain language, even though the OSPF /24 route covers the destination, the /25 static route covers a narrower range and therefore wins for addresses inside that upper half of the subnet.
The router does not begin by asking which protocol is more trusted unless the prefix lengths are equal among the matching routes.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review the router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
The router uses the longest-prefix match rule to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A router has a static route to 10.20.20.0/24 and also has a default route. Which route is used for traffic to 10.20.20.8?
hard
✓ A.The static route to 10.20.20.0/24
B.The default route
C.Both routes are used equally
D.Neither route is valid
Why A: The static route to 10.20.20.0/24 is used because it is more specific than the default route. In practical terms, the router always chooses the route that most precisely matches the destination before falling back to the default route.
This question reinforces the idea that the default route is a route of last resort, not a preferred choice when a better match already exists.
Variation 2. A router has an OSPF-learned route to a destination prefix and also a directly connected route to a broader supernet that includes that destination. The OSPF route is more specific. Which route is used for the destination?
hard
✓ A.The more specific OSPF route
B.The directly connected broader route
C.Both routes equally
D.Neither route can be used because the sources differ
Why A: The more specific OSPF route is used. In practical terms, route specificity is checked before broader route-source considerations when the prefixes are different. Even though the connected route is a directly attached source and often strongly trusted, it still loses if it is less specific than another matching route.
This is a subtle route-selection question because it combines source type and specificity. The key is that longest-prefix match comes first.
Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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