This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: routers use longest-prefix match to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address before considering administrative distance or metrics.. 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 router learns 203.0.113.0/24 through OSPF and 203.0.113.0/25 through a static route. Which route is used for traffic destined to 203.0.113.10?
The OSPF /24 route
Why wrong: Longest-prefix match takes priority over the less specific /24.
The static /25 route
Correct. The /25 is more specific and matches the destination.
Both routes equally
Why wrong: Equal-cost behavior is not based on mixed prefix lengths like this.
Neither route because the prefixes overlap
Why wrong: Overlapping routes are normal; the most specific match wins.
Answer choices
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
Routers prefer the most specific matching route first. The /25 route is more specific than the /24 and includes 203.0.113.10.
Key principle: Routers use longest-prefix match to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address before considering administrative distance or metrics.
Answer analysis
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
Longest-prefix match takes priority over the less specific /24.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that the OSPF /24 route had a higher administrative distance than the static route, or if the static route was removed from the routing table, then the OSPF /24 route would be the correct choice for traffic to 203.0.113.10.
The static /25 route
Why this is correct
Correct. The /25 is more specific and matches the destination.
Related concept
Routers use longest-prefix match to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address before considering administrative distance or metrics.
Both routes equally
Why it's wrong here
Equal-cost behavior is not based on mixed prefix lengths like this.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where both routes had the same administrative distance, such as when comparing two static routes, a question might ask which route would be used if both were equally preferred. In that case, both routes could be considered equally valid for traffic destined to the same IP.
Neither route because the prefixes overlap
Why it's wrong here
Overlapping routes are normal; the most specific match wins.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a question specifies that both routes are equally preferred due to equal administrative distances or if the router is configured to treat overlapping routes differently, this option could be correct. For example, if the question states that the router uses a round-robin method for load balancing between equal-cost paths, then both routes would be used.
Option-by-option analysis
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.
Why this is correct
Correct. The /25 is more specific and matches the destination.
Why this is wrong here
The OSPF /24 route is less specific than the static /25 route. The longest prefix match rule dictates that the /25 route is preferred for destination 203.0.113.10, which falls within the /25 range.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that the OSPF /24 route had a higher administrative distance than the static route, or if the static route was removed from the routing table, then the OSPF /24 route would be the correct choice for traffic to 203.0.113.10.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that OSPF, as a dynamic routing protocol, is preferred over static routes, or they may overlook the longest prefix match rule and assume administrative distance decides the winner.
Why this is wrong here
Equal-cost load balancing only applies when multiple routes have the same prefix length and metric. Here, the prefix lengths differ (/24 vs /25), so the longest prefix match selects the /25 route exclusively.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where both routes had the same administrative distance, such as when comparing two static routes, a question might ask which route would be used if both were equally preferred. In that case, both routes could be considered equally valid for traffic destined to the same IP.
Why candidates choose this
Students might confuse the concept of equal-cost multipath (ECMP) with overlapping routes of different lengths, assuming both routes could be used simultaneously.
Why this is wrong here
Overlapping routes are common in routing tables and do not cause a problem. The router always selects the most specific match (longest prefix) for forwarding, so both routes can coexist.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a question specifies that both routes are equally preferred due to equal administrative distances or if the router is configured to treat overlapping routes differently, this option could be correct. For example, if the question states that the router uses a round-robin method for load balancing between equal-cost paths, then both routes would be used.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that overlapping prefixes create a conflict or error, similar to overlapping IP addresses on interfaces, but routing protocols handle overlapping prefixes without issue.
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
Remember that the most specific route (longest prefix) is always preferred, regardless of the routing protocol.
Detailed technical explanation
Routing decisions in Cisco routers rely heavily on the concept of longest-prefix match, which means the router selects the route with the most specific subnet mask that matches the destination IP address. In this scenario, the router has two routes to the 203.0.113.0 network: an OSPF-learned route with a /24 mask and a static route with a /25 mask. Since 203.0.113.10 falls within both subnets, the router evaluates which prefix is more specific to forward the traffic. The router compares the subnet masks and prefers the route with the longest prefix length, which is the /25 static route in this case. Even though OSPF is a dynamic routing protocol and static routes usually have a lower administrative distance, the prefix length takes priority when matching the destination IP. The router first finds all matching routes and then selects the one with the most specific subnet mask before considering administrative distance or metric. A common exam trap is to assume that the dynamic OSPF route will always be preferred over a static route or that administrative distance alone determines route selection. However, Cisco routers first perform longest-prefix matching to find the best route. Overlapping routes are normal in routing tables, and the router always forwards packets based on the most specific route that matches the destination IP address, which in this case is the static /25 route.
Key takeaway
Routers use longest-prefix match to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address before considering administrative distance or metrics.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Review routers use longest-prefix match to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address before considering administrative distance or metrics., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Routers use longest-prefix match to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address before considering administrative distance or metrics..
The correct answer is: The static /25 route — Routers prefer the most specific matching route first. The /25 route is more specific than the /24 and includes 203.0.113.10.
Review routers use longest-prefix match to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address before considering administrative distance or metrics., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Routers use longest-prefix match to select the most specific route that matches the destination IP address before considering administrative distance or metrics.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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