Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.
Concepts
Matches
Application Layer (Layer 7)
Transport Layer (Layer 4)
Network Layer (Layer 3)
Data Link Layer (Layer 2)
Physical Layer (Layer 1)
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
Drag and drop the PDU names on the left to the correct OSI model layers on the right.
⚠ Common exam trap
Be careful not to swap the PDU names for Transport (segment) and Network (packet). Also, remember that 'Message' is the Application layer PDU, not 'Data'.
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
✓
Application: Message, Transport: Segment, Network: Packet, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: Data
In the OSI model, each layer processes a specific Protocol Data Unit (PDU). The Application layer (Layer 7) uses 'Message', the Transport layer (Layer 4) uses 'Segment', the Network layer (Layer 3) uses 'Packet', the Data Link layer (Layer 2) uses 'Frame', the Physical layer (Layer 1) uses 'Bit', and the Session layer (Layer 5) uses 'Data'. This pairing follows the correct OSI terminology as shown in Option A.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Application: Message, Transport: Segment, Network: Packet, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: Data
Why this is correct
This matches the standard OSI model PDU names: Application layer uses messages, Transport uses segments, Network uses packets, Data Link uses frames, Physical uses bits, and Session layer is often associated with data in exam contexts.
- ✗
Application: Data, Transport: Segment, Network: Packet, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: Message
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the Application layer uses messages, not data, and the Session layer is not typically associated with messages.
- ✗
Application: Message, Transport: Packet, Network: Segment, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: Data
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the Transport layer uses segments (TCP) or datagrams (UDP), not packets, and the Network layer uses packets, not segments.
- ✗
Application: Data, Transport: Segment, Network: Packet, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: Message
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the Application layer uses messages, not data, and the Session layer is not associated with messages.
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.
✓Application: Message, Transport: Segment, Network: Packet, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: DataCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This matches the standard OSI model PDU names: Application layer uses messages, Transport uses segments, Network uses packets, Data Link uses frames, Physical uses bits, and Session layer is often associated with data in exam contexts.
✗Application: Data, Transport: Segment, Network: Packet, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: MessageWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that the Application layer PDU is called a message, not data, and the Session layer PDU is not a message.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they may confuse 'data' as a generic term for all layers or misremember the Session layer's PDU.
✗Application: Message, Transport: Packet, Network: Segment, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: DataWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is swapping the PDU names for Transport and Network layers.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they may confuse the terms 'packet' and 'segment' or think of IP packets as segments.
✗Application: Data, Transport: Segment, Network: Packet, Data Link: Frame, Physical: Bit, Session: MessageWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is misassigning 'data' to Application and 'message' to Session.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they may think 'data' is a catch-all for upper layers or recall that Session layer sometimes handles data exchange.
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?”
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Key term
OSI model
The OSI model is a conceptual framework that standardizes the functions of a telecommunication or computing system into seven distinct layers, from physical hardware to application software.
Key term
Internet Protocol
Internet Protocol (IP) is the set of rules that governs how data is addressed, routed, and sent from one device to another across networks, including the internet.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 200-301 question from scratch — 1,450 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.