CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Exhibit
R1# show ip route O 192.168.10.0/24 [110/20] via 192.0.2.2 S 192.168.10.128/25 [1/0] via 192.0.2.6 S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 198.51.100.1 Destination being tested: 192.168.10.130
Based on the exhibit, which route will be used for destination 192.168.10.130?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common exam trap is to select the OSPF route to 192.168.10.0/24 because it appears as a valid route to the destination. Candidates may mistakenly believe that dynamic routing protocols override static routes or that the broader /24 subnet is sufficient. However, the router always prefers the longest prefix match, which is the /25 static route in this case. Another trap is assuming the default route will be used when multiple routes exist, but default routes only apply when no specific routes match the destination. Misunderstanding these routing principles leads to incorrect answers.
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 static route to 192.168.10.128/25
The route used will be the one with the longest matching prefix. In practical terms, 192.168.10.130 matches both the /24 and the /25 prefixes shown, but the /25 is more specific. Because longest-prefix match comes first, the router uses the /25 route even though other matching routes are present. This is a clean route-table interpretation question that is very close to real exam reasoning.
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 static route to 192.168.10.128/25
Why this is correct
This is correct because 192.168.10.130 is inside the more specific /25 prefix.
- ✗
The OSPF route to 192.168.10.0/24
Why it's wrong here
The OSPF route to 192.168.10.0/24 does not match the destination 192.168.10.130 because the /24 prefix covers addresses 192.168.10.1–254, but the exhibit shows a more specific /25 route (192.168.10.128/25) that includes .130. The longest-prefix match rule dictates that the /25 route is preferred over the less specific /24. This option is tempting because OSPF is a dynamic routing protocol that would normally install a /24 route, and in the absence of a longer prefix, that route would correctly forward traffic for .130.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked which route would be used if the static route to 192.168.10.128/25 was down or unavailable, then the OSPF route to 192.168.10.0/24 would be the correct answer as it would be the next best match for routing the destination.
- ✗
The default route
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because a more specific route exists.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that there were no specific routes configured for the destination 192.168.10.130 and only a default route was available, then the correct answer would be the default route. For example, 'What route will be used for destination 192.168.10.130 if only a default route exists?'
- ✗
No route at all
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the destination clearly matches multiple routes shown.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the routing table is empty or all routes have been removed, a question could ask if there is a route to 192.168.10.130. In that case, the correct answer would be 'No route at all' as there would be no available paths to the destination.
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 route to 192.168.10.128/25Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because 192.168.10.130 is inside the more specific /25 prefix.
✗The OSPF route to 192.168.10.0/24Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The OSPF route to 192.168.10.0/24 has a prefix length of /24, which is less specific than the /25 static route. Since 192.168.10.130 is within the /25 range, the router will choose the longer prefix match (/25) over the shorter one (/24).
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked which route would be used if the static route to 192.168.10.128/25 was down or unavailable, then the OSPF route to 192.168.10.0/24 would be the correct answer as it would be the next best match for routing the destination.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that OSPF, as a dynamic routing protocol, is preferred over static routes, or they may forget that prefix length is the primary tiebreaker, not the routing protocol source.
✗The default routeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A default route (0.0.0.0/0) is the least specific route and is only used when no other more specific route matches the destination. Since a more specific route (the /25) exists for 192.168.10.130, the default route is not used.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that there were no specific routes configured for the destination 192.168.10.130 and only a default route was available, then the correct answer would be the default route. For example, 'What route will be used for destination 192.168.10.130 if only a default route exists?'
Why candidates choose this
Test-takers might assume that a default route is always used as a last resort, but they overlook that a more specific matching route takes precedence regardless of administrative distance or metric.
✗No route at allWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The destination 192.168.10.130 clearly matches the static route to 192.168.10.128/25, so a route exists. The router will use that route to forward the packet.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the routing table is empty or all routes have been removed, a question could ask if there is a route to 192.168.10.130. In that case, the correct answer would be 'No route at all' as there would be no available paths to the destination.
Why candidates choose this
Students might incorrectly think that if a destination is not an exact match for any network address, no route exists. However, 192.168.10.130 is within the 192.168.10.128/25 subnet, so it is a 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?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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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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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.