- A
A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route to act as a backup.
Correct: The higher AD makes it less preferred than the primary route, so it is only used if the primary becomes unreachable.
- B
A floating static route must have a lower administrative distance than the primary route to ensure faster convergence.
Why wrong: Incorrect: A lower AD would make it more preferred, defeating the backup purpose. Floating static routes use a higher AD.
- C
A default route can be configured as a static route with destination 0.0.0.0/0 for IPv4 and ::/0 for IPv6.
Correct: Default routes are often configured statically with the all-zero prefix to match any destination not otherwise routed.
- D
Floating static routes are supported only for IPv6, not for IPv4.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Floating static routes work for both IPv4 and IPv6. The concept applies to any protocol using administrative distance.
- E
A default static route cannot be configured as a floating static route.
Why wrong: Incorrect: A default route with a higher AD than another default route (e.g., via a different next hop) functions as a floating default route.
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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.
Which TWO statements about floating static routes and default routes are correct?
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
A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route to act as a backup.
Option A is correct because a floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance (AD) than the primary route. This ensures the floating route remains inactive in the routing table unless the primary route fails, at which point the router installs the floating static route as a backup. The higher AD makes it less preferred than the primary dynamic or static route.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route to act as a backup.
Why this is correct
Correct: The higher AD makes it less preferred than the primary route, so it is only used if the primary becomes unreachable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A floating static route must have a lower administrative distance than the primary route to ensure faster convergence.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: A lower AD would make it more preferred, defeating the backup purpose. Floating static routes use a higher AD.
- ✓
A default route can be configured as a static route with destination 0.0.0.0/0 for IPv4 and ::/0 for IPv6.
Why this is correct
Correct: Default routes are often configured statically with the all-zero prefix to match any destination not otherwise routed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Floating static routes are supported only for IPv6, not for IPv4.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Floating static routes work for both IPv4 and IPv6. The concept applies to any protocol using administrative distance.
- ✗
A default static route cannot be configured as a floating static route.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: A default route with a higher AD than another default route (e.g., via a different next hop) functions as a floating default 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.
✓A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route to act as a backup.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct: The higher AD makes it less preferred than the primary route, so it is only used if the primary becomes unreachable.
✗A floating static route must have a lower administrative distance than the primary route to ensure faster convergence.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Floating static routes require a higher AD, not lower, to be less preferred than the primary route.
✗Floating static routes are supported only for IPv6, not for IPv4.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Both IPv4 and IPv6 static routes can be configured as floating routes by setting a higher AD.
✗A default static route cannot be configured as a floating static route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
You can have multiple default static routes with different ADs, making the higher AD one a floating backup.
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
Cisco often tests the misconception that a floating static route must have a lower AD to be 'faster,' when in fact it requires a higher AD to serve as a backup; candidates also mistakenly think default routes cannot be made floating or that floating routes are IPv6-only.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The administrative distance for a static route defaults to 1, while dynamic protocols like OSPF have an AD of 110 and EIGRP 90. By setting a floating static route's AD to, for example, 200, it only becomes active when all routes with lower ADs (including the primary route) are removed from the routing table. This mechanism is commonly used in dual-homed WAN designs where a backup link (e.g., cellular) is only used when the primary link fails, preventing suboptimal routing during normal operation.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A floating static route uses an administrative distance higher than that of the primary route to act as a backup. — Option A is correct because a floating static route is configured with a higher administrative distance (AD) than the primary route. This ensures the floating route remains inactive in the routing table unless the primary route fails, at which point the router installs the floating static route as a backup. The higher AD makes it less preferred than the primary dynamic or static route.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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