CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
A host is configured with 10.1.1.34/30. Which address is the broadcast address for its subnet?
⚠ Common exam trap
Ensure you correctly identify the subnet range and understand the roles of network, host, and broadcast addresses.
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
✓
10.1.1.35
A /30 subnet has a block size of 4. In practical terms, the last-octet blocks are 0–3, 4–7, 8–11, and so on. Because 34 falls within the 32–35 block, the broadcast address is the last address in that block: 10.1.1.35. This question tests whether you can identify the correct subnet block before choosing the broadcast 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.
- ✗
10.1.1.31
Why it's wrong here
10.1.1.31 is the broadcast address of the preceding /30 subnet, not the subnet containing 10.1.1.34. A /30 mask creates blocks of 4 addresses, so the valid subnet for 10.1.1.34 is 10.1.1.32 through 10.1.1.35. The address 10.1.1.31 belongs to the 10.1.1.28–10.1.1.31 block, making it a full network boundary away. The broadcast must be the last address within the same /30 block as the host, which is 10.1.1.35, so .31 is incorrect.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different context, if the subnet mask were /29 instead of /30, the broadcast address for the subnet 10.1.1.24/29 would be 10.1.1.31, making this option correct for that specific question.
- ✓
10.1.1.35
Why this is correct
The /30 subnet mask specified for the host 10.1.1.34 allocates two bits for host addresses. This creates a subnet containing four addresses in total. The network address for 10.1.1.34/30 is 10.1.1.32, where all host bits are zero. Consequently, the broadcast address is the last address in this subnet, where all host bits are set to one, which calculates to 10.1.1.35.
- ✗
10.1.1.32
Why it's wrong here
A /30 subnet provides only two usable host addresses, with the broadcast address being the last address in the block. For 10.1.1.34/30, the subnet is 10.1.1.32–10.1.1.35, so the broadcast is 10.1.1.35, not 10.1.1.32. This option is tempting because 10.1.1.32 is the network address (the first address), which a candidate might confuse with the broadcast when calculating a /30 range. It would be correct as the broadcast address only if the subnet were a /29, where 10.1.1.32 would be the last address of the 10.1.1.24–10.1.1.31 block.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified a subnet mask of /29 instead of /30, then 10.1.1.32 would be the broadcast address for the subnet 10.1.1.32/29, which ranges from 10.1.1.32 to 10.1.1.39.
- ✗
10.1.1.36
Why it's wrong here
10.1.1.36 is the network address of the next /30 subnet, which spans 10.1.1.36 through 10.1.1.39. Since the host’s subnet is 10.1.1.32–10.1.1.35, the broadcast is the final address in that range, 10.1.1.35. Choosing .36 mistakenly adds 4 to the network address instead of recognizing that the broadcast is the last address before the next subnet’s network address. One past the broadcast, .36 begins a new subnet, so it cannot be the broadcast.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question where the subnet mask is /29 and the network address is 10.1.1.32, the broadcast address would be 10.1.1.39. In this scenario, option D (10.1.1.36) could be presented as a potential answer for a question regarding valid addresses within that subnet.
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.
✓10.1.1.35Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The /30 subnet mask specified for the host 10.1.1.34 allocates two bits for host addresses. This creates a subnet containing four addresses in total. The network address for 10.1.1.34/30 is 10.1.1.32, where all host bits are zero. Consequently, the broadcast address is the last address in this subnet, where all host bits are set to one, which calculates to 10.1.1.35.
✗10.1.1.31Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The address 10.1.1.31 is incorrect as a broadcast address for the subnet 10.1.1.34/30; the correct broadcast address is 10.1.1.35, derived from the subnet mask which allows for only 4 IP addresses (10.1.1.34 to 10.1.1.37).
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different context, if the subnet mask were /29 instead of /30, the broadcast address for the subnet 10.1.1.24/29 would be 10.1.1.31, making this option correct for that specific question.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may be tempted by this option because it follows the pattern of common subnetting calculations, where the last address in a range is often mistakenly assumed to be the broadcast address without careful consideration of the subnet mask.
✗10.1.1.32Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The address 10.1.1.32 is not the broadcast address for the subnet 10.1.1.34/30; instead, it is the network address for the subnet, which is 10.1.1.32 to 10.1.1.35.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified a subnet mask of /29 instead of /30, then 10.1.1.32 would be the broadcast address for the subnet 10.1.1.32/29, which ranges from 10.1.1.32 to 10.1.1.39.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the calculation of broadcast addresses and mistakenly identify the next address after the network address as the broadcast address, especially when dealing with small subnets.
✗10.1.1.36Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The address 10.1.1.36 is incorrect because it exceeds the valid range for a /30 subnet, which only allows for four IP addresses (two usable hosts, one network, and one broadcast). The broadcast address for the subnet 10.1.1.34/30 is 10.1.1.35.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question where the subnet mask is /29 and the network address is 10.1.1.32, the broadcast address would be 10.1.1.39. In this scenario, option D (10.1.1.36) could be presented as a potential answer for a question regarding valid addresses within that subnet.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose option D due to a misunderstanding of subnetting boundaries, mistakenly believing that addresses immediately following the last usable IP might be valid broadcast addresses in different subnet configurations.
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?”
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
IPv4 Addressing and Address Classes
Key term
Broadcast address
A broadcast address is a special network address used to send data to every device on a local network segment simultaneously.
Key term
Subnet
A subnet is a logical subdivision of an IP network, created by partitioning a larger network address space using subnet masks.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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