- A
Routes with the longest prefix length (most specific) are preferred over routes with a shorter prefix.
The router always uses the longest-prefix match first. A /24 route is preferred over a /16 route for the same destination.
- B
If two routes have the same prefix length, the route with the higher administrative distance is selected.
Why wrong: A lower administrative distance indicates a more trustworthy source. The route with the lower AD is preferred, not higher.
- C
When the administrative distance is identical, the router compares the metric and selects the route with the lowest metric.
After matching prefix length and AD, if multiple routes still exist (e.g., from the same routing protocol), the router uses the metric (e.g., hop count, bandwidth) and picks the lowest metric.
- D
A directly connected route has an administrative distance of 1, making it more trustworthy than any dynamic route.
Why wrong: Directly connected routes actually have an AD of 0, not 1. An AD of 0 is the most trustworthy, but the value is 0.
- E
Dynamic routes are always preferred over directly connected routes because they can adapt to network changes.
Why wrong: Directly connected routes have a lower AD (0) than any dynamic routing protocol (e.g., OSPF AD 110, EIGRP AD 90). Therefore, directly connected routes are always preferred over dynamic routes.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that routes with the longest prefix length are preferred first, and when prefix lengths are equal, the route with the lowest metric is chosen. This is because routers apply the longest prefix match rule to find the most specific network entry, ensuring traffic is sent to the most precise destination; if two routes share the same prefix length, the router then compares administrative distance (AD) and selects the lower AD, and only if ADs are equal does it fall back to the lowest metric. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the route selection hierarchy—prefix length over AD over metric—and a common trap is confusing AD with metric or thinking higher AD is better. Remember the memory tip: "Longest match first, then lowest trust (AD), then lowest cost (metric)."
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 describe how a router selects the best path for a destination network when multiple routing table entries exist?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Routes with the longest prefix length (most specific) are preferred over routes with a shorter prefix.
Routers select the best path by first applying the longest prefix match rule (most specific subnet mask), so option A is correct. If two routes have the same prefix length, the router then compares administrative distance (AD) and prefers the lower AD; option B is incorrect because it says higher AD is selected. When AD is equal, the router uses metric and chooses the lowest metric, making option C correct. Option D is false because directly connected routes have an AD of 0, not 1, and they are indeed more trustworthy than dynamic routes but not due to AD 1. Option E is wrong because directly connected routes are always preferred over dynamic routes regardless of adaptability.
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.
- ✓
Routes with the longest prefix length (most specific) are preferred over routes with a shorter prefix.
Why this is correct
The router always uses the longest-prefix match first. A /24 route is preferred over a /16 route for the same destination.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
If two routes have the same prefix length, the route with the higher administrative distance is selected.
Why it's wrong here
A lower administrative distance indicates a more trustworthy source. The route with the lower AD is preferred, not higher.
- ✓
When the administrative distance is identical, the router compares the metric and selects the route with the lowest metric.
Why this is correct
After matching prefix length and AD, if multiple routes still exist (e.g., from the same routing protocol), the router uses the metric (e.g., hop count, bandwidth) and picks the lowest metric.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A directly connected route has an administrative distance of 1, making it more trustworthy than any dynamic route.
Why it's wrong here
Directly connected routes actually have an AD of 0, not 1. An AD of 0 is the most trustworthy, but the value is 0.
- ✗
Dynamic routes are always preferred over directly connected routes because they can adapt to network changes.
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.
✓Routes with the longest prefix length (most specific) are preferred over routes with a shorter prefix.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The router always uses the longest-prefix match first. A /24 route is preferred over a /16 route for the same destination.
✗If two routes have the same prefix length, the route with the higher administrative distance is selected.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The router selects the route with the lower administrative distance, not higher. Administrative distance is a measure of trustworthiness; a lower value indicates a more reliable source. For example, a static route (AD 1) is preferred over an OSPF route (AD 110).
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse administrative distance with metric, thinking that a higher value indicates a better path. They might also misremember the rule, thinking that 'higher' means 'better' in all contexts.
✗A directly connected route has an administrative distance of 1, making it more trustworthy than any dynamic route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Directly connected routes have an administrative distance of 0, not 1. An AD of 0 is the most trustworthy and cannot be overridden by any dynamic route. The value 1 is used for static routes.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse the AD values for directly connected (0) and static routes (1). They may also think that a value of 1 is the most trustworthy because it is the smallest positive integer.
✗Dynamic routes are always preferred over directly connected routes because they can adapt to network changes.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Directly connected routes have an AD of 0, which is lower than any dynamic routing protocol (e.g., OSPF AD 110, EIGRP AD 90). Therefore, directly connected routes are always preferred over dynamic routes, not the other way around.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that dynamic routes are more intelligent and adaptive, so they should be preferred. They may also overlook the fact that directly connected routes are inherently more reliable because they are directly attached to the router.
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 exact administrative distance values (e.g., directly connected = 0, static = 1) and the correct comparison order (prefix length first, then AD, then metric) to catch candidates who confuse AD with metric or misremember default values.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The routing table lookup process first performs a longest prefix match; if multiple entries share the same prefix length, the router then compares administrative distance (e.g., OSPF = 110, EIGRP = 90, static = 1). If AD is equal, the metric (e.g., hop count for RIP, cost for OSPF, composite metric for EIGRP) is used as a tiebreaker, with the lowest metric winning. This hierarchical decision process is fundamental to how Cisco IOS selects the best path.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
IP Routing — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
IP Routing practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 200-301 questions
1,819 questions across all exam domains
- →
CCNA 200-301 v2 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
200-301 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Network Infrastructure and Connectivity.
Switching and Network Access practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Switching and Network Access.
IP Routing practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to IP Routing.
Network Services and Security practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Network Services and Security.
AI and Network Operations practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to AI and Network Operations.
CCNA subnetting practice questions
Practise IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, masks, host ranges and subnet selection.
CCNA OSPF practice questions
Practise OSPF neighbours, router IDs, metrics, areas and routing-table interpretation.
CCNA VLAN practice questions
Practise VLANs, access ports, trunks, allowed VLANs and switching scenarios.
CCNA STP practice questions
Practise spanning tree, root bridge election, port roles and STP troubleshooting.
CCNA EtherChannel practice questions
Practise LACP, PAgP, port-channel behaviour and bundle requirements.
CCNA ACL practice questions
Practise standard and extended ACLs, permit/deny logic and traffic filtering.
CCNA NAT practice questions
Practise static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT and inside/outside address translation.
Practice this exam
Start a free 200-301 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Routes with the longest prefix length (most specific) are preferred over routes with a shorter prefix. — Routers select the best path by first applying the longest prefix match rule (most specific subnet mask), so option A is correct. If two routes have the same prefix length, the router then compares administrative distance (AD) and prefers the lower AD; option B is incorrect because it says higher AD is selected. When AD is equal, the router uses metric and chooses the lowest metric, making option C correct. Option D is false because directly connected routes have an AD of 0, not 1, and they are indeed more trustworthy than dynamic routes but not due to AD 1. Option E is wrong because directly connected routes are always preferred over dynamic routes regardless of adaptability.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 200-301
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Match each route-selection concept to the description that best fits it.
medium- ✓ A.Longest prefix match: Router selects route with the most specific subnet mask
- ✓ B.Administrative distance: Priority of routing protocol (lower is more preferred)
- ✓ C.Metric: Value used to compare routes within the same routing protocol
- ✓ D.Equal-cost load balancing: Traffic distributed across multiple routes with same metric
Why A: Longest-prefix match selects the most specific matching route. Administrative distance compares trust between route sources. Metric compares candidate paths within a protocol or route source. Default route serves as a fallback when no more specific route exists.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.