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CCNA Practice Question: Which TWO statements about interpreting routing…
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of 200-301 exam topics. 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 about interpreting routing table output are true? (Choose two.)
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 route with a longer prefix length is always preferred over a route with a shorter prefix length, regardless of administrative distance.
The routing table uses the longest-prefix match to select the most specific route. Administrative distance (AD) determines which routing source is preferred when multiple routes to the same network exist; a lower AD is better. Metrics are used for routes from the same routing protocol. Directly connected routes have an AD of 0 and are always preferred over dynamic routes with the same prefix length. Next-hop is the IP address of the next router to forward packets.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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 route with a longer prefix length is always preferred over a route with a shorter prefix length, regardless of administrative distance.
- ✓
A directly connected route has an administrative distance of 0 and is always preferred over any dynamic route for the same network.
- ✗
If two routes have the same prefix length, the route with the higher administrative distance is preferred.
Why it's wrong here
A lower AD indicates a more trustworthy source, so the route with the lower AD is preferred, not the higher one.
- ✗
The metric is used to compare routes from different routing protocols.
- ✗
A static route configured with an administrative distance of 200 will be preferred over an OSPF route with AD 110 for the same network.
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 route with a longer prefix length is always preferred over a route with a shorter prefix length, regardless of administrative distance.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The longest-prefix match rule ensures the most specific route is used first, even if another route has a lower AD.
✗If two routes have the same prefix length, the route with the higher administrative distance is preferred.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A lower AD indicates a more trustworthy source, so the route with the lower AD is preferred, not the higher one.
✗The metric is used to compare routes from different routing protocols.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Metrics are only comparable within the same routing protocol (e.g., OSPF cost vs. EIGRP composite metric). For different protocols, AD is used to select the best route.
✗A static route configured with an administrative distance of 200 will be preferred over an OSPF route with AD 110 for the same network.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A lower AD is preferred; OSPF AD 110 is lower than 200, so the OSPF route would be chosen.
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: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
- OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
- A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
- Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
- Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
- Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 200-301 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A route with a longer prefix length is always preferred over a route with a shorter prefix length, regardless of administrative distance. — The routing table uses the longest-prefix match to select the most specific route. Administrative distance (AD) determines which routing source is preferred when multiple routes to the same network exist; a lower AD is better. Metrics are used for routes from the same routing protocol. Directly connected routes have an AD of 0 and are always preferred over dynamic routes with the same prefix length. Next-hop is the IP address of the next router to forward packets.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 200-301 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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