CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
A subnet uses network address 192.168.200.96/28. Which range contains the usable host addresses?
⚠ Common exam trap
Remember to exclude the network and broadcast addresses when determining usable host ranges.
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
✓
192.168.200.97 to 192.168.200.110
A /28 block contains 16 addresses. In practical terms, the block starting at 192.168.200.96 runs through 192.168.200.111. The first address is the network address and the last address is the broadcast address. That means the usable host range is 192.168.200.97 through 192.168.200.110. This question checks whether you can calculate the correct block and then exclude the two reserved boundary addresses.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
192.168.200.97 to 192.168.200.110
Why this is correct
The /28 prefix length translates to subnet mask 255.255.255.240, giving a 16-address block. Since 192.168.200.96 is the network address (last octet 0110 0000), the broadcast address is .111 (0110 1111). Consequently, the only addresses available to hosts are .97 through .110 inclusive, yielding 14 usable addresses while excluding both reserved endpoints.
- ✗
192.168.200.96 to 192.168.200.111
Why it's wrong here
Although .96 and .111 are indeed the network and broadcast addresses of the /28 subnet, neither may be assigned to a host interface. A valid host range must start after the network ID and end before the broadcast ID. Including both .96 and .111 makes this option incorrect because it contains reserved addresses rather than only assignable host addresses.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for the entire range of addresses in the subnet, including the network and broadcast addresses, then this option would be correct. For example, a question could specify 'list all addresses in the subnet' rather than just usable host addresses.
- ✗
192.168.200.98 to 192.168.200.111
Why it's wrong here
This range mistakenly skips 192.168.200.97, which is the first valid host address in the .96/28 subnet, and it also includes .111, the broadcast address that cannot be used by a host. The correct assignable range is .97 through .110, so omitting .97 while retaining .111 shifts the range at both endpoints. As a result, it is neither the full usable range nor a valid host list.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for the range of usable host addresses for a subnet with a different CIDR notation, such as 192.168.200.96/27, then the range 192.168.200.98 to 192.168.200.111 would be correct, as it would include valid host addresses in that larger subnet.
- ✗
192.168.200.81 to 192.168.200.94
Why it's wrong here
This range corresponds to the usable host addresses of the neighboring 192.168.200.80/28 subnet, whose network address is .80 and broadcast is .95. The question centers on the .96/28 subnet, where .96 is the network ID and .111 is the broadcast ID. Therefore, starting at .81 places the range entirely outside the .96/28 address block.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the subnet were defined as 192.168.200.80/28, where the usable host addresses would indeed range from 192.168.200.81 to 192.168.200.94, making option D valid in that context.
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.
✓192.168.200.97 to 192.168.200.110Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The /28 prefix length translates to subnet mask 255.255.255.240, giving a 16-address block. Since 192.168.200.96 is the network address (last octet 0110 0000), the broadcast address is .111 (0110 1111). Consequently, the only addresses available to hosts are .97 through .110 inclusive, yielding 14 usable addresses while excluding both reserved endpoints.
✗192.168.200.96 to 192.168.200.111Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This range includes the network address (.96) and the broadcast address (.111), which cannot be assigned to hosts. Usable host addresses must exclude these two addresses.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for the entire range of addresses in the subnet, including the network and broadcast addresses, then this option would be correct. For example, a question could specify 'list all addresses in the subnet' rather than just usable host addresses.
Why candidates choose this
Students often mistakenly include the network and broadcast addresses in the usable range because they forget that these addresses are reserved and not assignable to hosts.
✗192.168.200.98 to 192.168.200.111Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This range starts at .98, which excludes the valid host .97, and ends at .111, which includes the broadcast address. The correct usable range is .97 to .110.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for the range of usable host addresses for a subnet with a different CIDR notation, such as 192.168.200.96/27, then the range 192.168.200.98 to 192.168.200.111 would be correct, as it would include valid host addresses in that larger subnet.
Why candidates choose this
A student might think the first usable address is .98 because they incorrectly calculate the next address after the network address, or they might include the broadcast address due to confusion.
✗192.168.200.81 to 192.168.200.94Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This range (192.168.200.81 to .94) belongs to a different subnet. For a /28 subnet starting at .96, the valid host range is .97 to .110. This range is from a previous subnet (e.g., 192.168.200.80/28).
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the subnet were defined as 192.168.200.80/28, where the usable host addresses would indeed range from 192.168.200.81 to 192.168.200.94, making option D valid in that context.
Why candidates choose this
A student might miscalculate the subnet boundaries or confuse the network address with a different subnet, leading them to select a range from an adjacent subnet.
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?”
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A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
Key term
Broadcast address
A broadcast address is a special network address used to send data to every device on a local network segment simultaneously.
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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.