- A
802.11ax uses OFDMA, while 802.11ac uses OFDM.
OFDMA allows multiple users to share subcarriers simultaneously, improving efficiency in dense environments.
- B
Both 802.11ac and 802.11ax support 1024-QAM modulation.
Why wrong: 802.11ac supports up to 256-QAM, while 802.11ax introduces 1024-QAM for higher data rates.
- C
WPA3 is mandatory for 802.11ax and optional for 802.11ac.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) certification requires WPA3, while 802.11ac devices may support WPA3 via firmware updates but it is not mandatory.
- D
Both standards use only the 5 GHz band.
Why wrong: 802.11ac operates exclusively in 5 GHz, while 802.11ax supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
- E
802.11ac uses 80 MHz channels, while 802.11ax uses 160 MHz channels exclusively.
Why wrong: Both standards support 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channel widths, though 160 MHz is more common in 802.11ac Wave 2 and 802.11ax.
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 correctly compare 802.11ac and 802.11ax features?
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
802.11ax uses OFDMA, while 802.11ac uses OFDM.
Option A is correct because 802.11ax (Wi‑Fi 6) introduces Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), which allows multiple users to share subcarriers simultaneously, improving efficiency in dense environments. In contrast, 802.11ac (Wi‑Fi 5) uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), where each transmission occupies the entire channel for a single user, leading to less efficient channel utilization. Option C is correct: WPA3 is mandatory for Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) certification, while for 802.11ac it is optional—devices can still obtain Wi‑Fi 5 certification with WPA2 only. Option B is incorrect because 802.11ac supports a maximum of 256‑QAM; 1024‑QAM is first introduced with 802.11ax. Option D is wrong: 802.11ac operates exclusively in the 5 GHz band, but 802.11ax operates in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Option E is false: both standards support 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channel widths; 802.11ac does not exclusively use 80 MHz, and 802.11ax does not use 160 MHz exclusively.
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.
- ✓
802.11ax uses OFDMA, while 802.11ac uses OFDM.
Why this is correct
OFDMA allows multiple users to share subcarriers simultaneously, improving efficiency in dense environments.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Both 802.11ac and 802.11ax support 1024-QAM modulation.
Why it's wrong here
802.11ac supports up to 256-QAM, while 802.11ax introduces 1024-QAM for higher data rates.
- ✓
WPA3 is mandatory for 802.11ax and optional for 802.11ac.
Why this is correct
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) certification requires WPA3, while 802.11ac devices may support WPA3 via firmware updates but it is not mandatory.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Both standards use only the 5 GHz band.
Why it's wrong here
802.11ac operates exclusively in 5 GHz, while 802.11ax supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
- ✗
802.11ac uses 80 MHz channels, while 802.11ax uses 160 MHz channels exclusively.
Why it's wrong here
Both standards support 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channel widths, though 160 MHz is more common in 802.11ac Wave 2 and 802.11ax.
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.
✓802.11ax uses OFDMA, while 802.11ac uses OFDM.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
OFDMA allows multiple users to share subcarriers simultaneously, improving efficiency in dense environments.
✗Both 802.11ac and 802.11ax support 1024-QAM modulation.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
802.11ac supports up to 256-QAM, not 1024-QAM. 1024-QAM is introduced in 802.11ax to achieve higher data rates by encoding more bits per symbol. Stating that both support 1024-QAM is factually incorrect.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse the modulation advancements in Wi-Fi generations, assuming that 1024-QAM is available in both since 802.11ac Wave 2 introduced some enhancements. However, 1024-QAM is exclusive to 802.11ax.
✗Both standards use only the 5 GHz band.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
802.11ac operates exclusively in the 5 GHz band, while 802.11ax supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The statement incorrectly claims both use only 5 GHz, ignoring 802.11ax's backward compatibility with 2.4 GHz.
Why candidates choose this
Since 802.11ac is known for 5 GHz operation, students might assume 802.11ax also only uses 5 GHz, especially because early marketing focused on 5 GHz improvements. However, 802.11ax includes 2.4 GHz for better range and compatibility.
✗802.11ac uses 80 MHz channels, while 802.11ax uses 160 MHz channels exclusively.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Both 802.11ac and 802.11ax support multiple channel widths: 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz. 802.11ac Wave 2 introduced 160 MHz, and 802.11ax also supports it. The statement incorrectly claims 802.11ac uses only 80 MHz and 802.11ax uses only 160 MHz.
Why candidates choose this
Students may recall that 802.11ac commonly uses 80 MHz channels and that 160 MHz is a newer feature, leading them to think 802.11ac is limited to 80 MHz. However, both standards support a range of channel widths.
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 higher QAM values (like 1024-QAM) are backward-compatible across Wi-Fi generations, but 802.11ac is limited to 256-QAM, and 802.11ax is the first to support 1024-QAM.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OFDMA in 802.11ax divides a channel into smaller resource units (RUs), each assigned to different clients, reducing latency and improving throughput in high-density scenarios like stadiums or offices. In contrast, OFDM in 802.11ac allocates the entire channel to a single user per transmission, leading to contention overhead. Real-world deployments benefit from OFDMA when many IoT devices or low-bandwidth clients share an access point, as it minimizes airtime waste.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-301 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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?
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 802.11ax uses OFDMA, while 802.11ac uses OFDM. — Option A is correct because 802.11ax (Wi‑Fi 6) introduces Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), which allows multiple users to share subcarriers simultaneously, improving efficiency in dense environments. In contrast, 802.11ac (Wi‑Fi 5) uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), where each transmission occupies the entire channel for a single user, leading to less efficient channel utilization. Option C is correct: WPA3 is mandatory for Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) certification, while for 802.11ac it is optional—devices can still obtain Wi‑Fi 5 certification with WPA2 only. Option B is incorrect because 802.11ac supports a maximum of 256‑QAM; 1024‑QAM is first introduced with 802.11ax. Option D is wrong: 802.11ac operates exclusively in the 5 GHz band, but 802.11ax operates in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Option E is false: both standards support 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channel widths; 802.11ac does not exclusively use 80 MHz, and 802.11ax does not use 160 MHz exclusively.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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