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: a Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to 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.
Exhibit
R1# show ip route
O 172.20.10.0/24 [110/20] via 192.0.2.2
S 172.20.10.32/27 [1/0] via 192.0.2.6
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 198.51.100.1
Destination being tested: 172.20.10.33
Based on the exhibit, which route will be used to reach 172.20.10.33?
R1# show ip route
O 172.20.10.0/24 [110/20] via 192.0.2.2
S 172.20.10.32/27 [1/0] via 192.0.2.6
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 198.51.100.1
Destination being tested: 172.20.10.33
A
The static route to 172.20.10.32/27
This is correct because 172.20.10.33 falls in the more specific /27 prefix.
B
The OSPF route to 172.20.10.0/24
Why wrong: This is wrong because the /24 is less specific than the /27.
C
The default route
Why wrong: This is wrong because a more specific matching route exists.
D
No route, because the destination does not match any prefix.
Why wrong: This is wrong because the destination clearly matches both prefixes shown.
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 172.20.10.32/27
The route used will be the one with the longest matching prefix. In practical terms, 172.20.10.33 matches both the /24 and the /27 shown, but the /27 is more specific. That means the router selects the /27 route before considering the broader /24 or any default route.
This is exactly the kind of route-table interpretation the CCNA exam likes because it rewards precise thinking about prefix boundaries.
Key principle: A Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to 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 static route to 172.20.10.32/27
Why this is correct
This is correct because 172.20.10.33 falls in the more specific /27 prefix.
Related concept
A Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to the destination IP address.
✗
The OSPF route to 172.20.10.0/24
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the /24 is less specific than the /27.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question asks which route is preferred for all traffic destined for the 172.20.10.0/24 network, the OSPF route would be correct, as it encompasses the entire subnet including 172.20.10.33.
✗
The default route
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because a more specific matching route exists.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question setup where the routing table only contains a default route (0.0.0.0/0) and no specific routes for the destination IP, the default route would be the only option available to reach 172.20.10.33.
✗
No route, because the destination does not match any prefix.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the destination clearly matches both prefixes shown.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if the question specified that the routing table had no entries for 172.20.10.33 or that the routing protocols were disabled, then option D would be correct, indicating that the destination cannot be reached due to the absence of any matching route.
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 172.20.10.32/27Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because 172.20.10.33 falls in the more specific /27 prefix.
✗The OSPF route to 172.20.10.0/24Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The OSPF route to 172.20.10.0/24 has a prefix length of /24, which is less specific than the /27 static route. Since 172.20.10.33 matches both prefixes, the router will choose the longer prefix (/27) over the shorter one (/24).
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question asks which route is preferred for all traffic destined for the 172.20.10.0/24 network, the OSPF route would be correct, as it encompasses the entire subnet including 172.20.10.33.
Why candidates choose this
Students may think that OSPF, being a dynamic routing protocol, is always preferred over static routes, or they may overlook the importance of prefix length in route selection.
✗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 172.20.10.33 matches both the /27 and /24 routes, the default route will not be used.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question setup where the routing table only contains a default route (0.0.0.0/0) and no specific routes for the destination IP, the default route would be the only option available to reach 172.20.10.33.
Why candidates choose this
Students might assume that if a destination is not explicitly listed, the default route will be used, but here the destination does match explicit routes, so the default is not considered.
✗No route, because the destination does not match any prefix.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The destination 172.20.10.33 clearly matches both the 172.20.10.32/27 and 172.20.10.0/24 prefixes, so a route exists. The router will use the longest prefix match to forward the packet.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if the question specified that the routing table had no entries for 172.20.10.33 or that the routing protocols were disabled, then option D would be correct, indicating that the destination cannot be reached due to the absence of any matching route.
Why candidates choose this
A student might incorrectly think that because 172.20.10.33 is not exactly the network address or broadcast address, it does not match the prefix, but any IP within the range matches.
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 to select the OSPF route or the default route instead of the static route with the longer prefix. Candidates often mistakenly believe that dynamic routing protocols like OSPF always take precedence or that default routes are used when any route exists. However, Cisco routers first evaluate the longest prefix match before considering administrative distance. Ignoring this can lead to incorrect answers because the more specific /27 static route will always be preferred over the broader /24 OSPF route or the default route for the destination 172.20.10.33.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This is wrong because the destination clearly matches both prefixes shown.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Routing decisions in Cisco devices rely heavily on the concept of longest prefix match, where the router selects the route with the most specific subnet mask that matches the destination IP address. In this scenario, the destination IP 172.20.10.33 falls within both the 172.20.10.0/24 and 172.20.10.32/27 subnets, but the /27 subnet is more specific because it covers a smaller range of IP addresses.
The router evaluates all available routes and chooses the one with the longest subnet mask first, as it represents a more precise path to the destination. Even if a less specific route like the /24 or a default route exists, the router will prefer the /27 static route because it provides a narrower and therefore more accurate match for 172.20.10.33.
A common exam trap is to assume that dynamic routing protocols like OSPF always take precedence over static routes or that default routes are used when any route exists. In reality, Cisco routers prioritize routes based on prefix length first, then administrative distance. Understanding this hierarchy is crucial for correctly interpreting routing tables and answering CCNA questions about route selection.
KKey Concepts to Remember
A Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to the destination IP address.
Static routes with more specific subnet masks override less specific dynamic routes when both match the destination.
The /27 subnet mask is more specific than the /24 mask because it covers fewer IP addresses, providing a more precise route.
OSPF routes are preferred based on administrative distance but can be overridden by static routes with longer prefix matches.
Default routes are only used when no more specific route exists in the routing table for the destination IP.
Routing decisions prioritize prefix length before considering administrative distance or metric values in Cisco devices.
A destination IP address can match multiple routes, but the router always forwards packets using the most specific route.
Exam questions often test understanding of longest prefix match to evaluate precise routing table interpretation skills.
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
A Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to 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 a Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to 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 — A Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to the destination IP address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The static route to 172.20.10.32/27 — The route used will be the one with the longest matching prefix. In practical terms, 172.20.10.33 matches both the /24 and the /27 shown, but the /27 is more specific. That means the router selects the /27 route before considering the broader /24 or any default route.
This is exactly the kind of route-table interpretation the CCNA exam likes because it rewards precise thinking about prefix boundaries.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review a Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to 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?
A Cisco router selects the route with the longest matching prefix to forward packets to the destination IP address.
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