CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Which STP port state on a classic 802.1D switch listens for BPDUs and prepares to participate in the topology, but does not yet learn MAC addresses?
⚠ Common exam trap
Do not confuse the listening state with the learning state; remember that listening involves BPDU processing without MAC address learning.
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
✓
Listening
In classic STP, the listening state processes BPDUs and waits before learning begins. The learning state is when the switch starts populating the MAC table.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Listening
Why this is correct
In the classic 802.1D listening state, a port is still blocked from forwarding user data, but it is actively listening to incoming BPDUs to determine the network topology. During this 15-second forward-delay interval, the switch does not learn MAC addresses from the frames it receives, and it cannot send user traffic. Only after this state does the port move to learning.
- ✗
Learning
Why it's wrong here
During the learning state, the switch does begin populating its MAC address table by examining the source addresses of frames received on the port, even though it still does not forward those frames out any port. This state lasts for the forward-delay timer (15 seconds) and serves to avoid temporary loops while the port prepares to enter the forwarding state. It does not listen for BPDUs as its primary function; that happens in the listening state.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct for a question asking: 'Which STP port state on a classic 802.1D switch learns MAC addresses but does not yet forward data frames?'
- ✗
Forwarding
Why it's wrong here
In the forwarding state, a port actively sends and receives normal user traffic, including its own BPDUs, and it is the final operating state for all root and designated ports. While a port in forwarding state continues to receive BPDUs from neighboring switches, it is no longer in the formal 'listening' phase because the switch has already converged on the active topology. Forwarding is not the state where a port listens for BPDUs to make STP decisions; that listening function is confined to the earlier listening state.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct for a question asking: 'Which STP port state on a classic 802.1D switch forwards data frames and learns MAC addresses?'
- ✗
Disabled
Why it's wrong here
A disabled port on a classic 802.1D switch is administratively shut down or has failed a hardware or link test, so it is completely excluded from the spanning-tree process. Because the port is not active, it neither sends nor receives BPDUs, does not learn MAC addresses, and does not forward any frames. The disabled state is not a normal STP transition state but rather an administrative or fault condition.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a question asking: 'Which STP port state indicates that the port is administratively down and does not participate in spanning tree?'
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.
✓ListeningCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
In the classic 802.1D listening state, a port is still blocked from forwarding user data, but it is actively listening to incoming BPDUs to determine the network topology. During this 15-second forward-delay interval, the switch does not learn MAC addresses from the frames it receives, and it cannot send user traffic. Only after this state does the port move to learning.
✗LearningWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
In the listening state, a switch port listens for BPDUs but does not learn MAC addresses. The learning state is the next step where the port begins to learn MAC addresses from incoming frames while still not forwarding traffic.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct for a question asking: 'Which STP port state on a classic 802.1D switch learns MAC addresses but does not yet forward data frames?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often confuse the order of STP states (blocking, listening, learning, forwarding) and mistakenly think that learning includes both BPDU listening and MAC learning, or they misremember the specific function of each state.
✗ForwardingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
In the Forwarding state, the switch port has already learned MAC addresses and is forwarding data frames, whereas the question specifies a state that does not yet learn MAC addresses.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct for a question asking: 'Which STP port state on a classic 802.1D switch forwards data frames and learns MAC addresses?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the sequence of STP states, thinking that Forwarding is the first active state, or they may misremember that learning MAC addresses occurs only in the Forwarding state.
✗DisabledWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Disabled port state does not listen for BPDUs, learn MAC addresses, or forward frames; it is administratively shut down and has no participation in STP topology.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a question asking: 'Which STP port state indicates that the port is administratively down and does not participate in spanning tree?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'Disabled' with a state that is inactive but still listening, or they might think a disabled port can still receive BPDUs, which is incorrect.
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?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
IPv4 Address Class Summary
| Class | First Octet Range | Default Mask | Networks | Hosts per Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1–126 | /8 (255.0.0.0) | 126 | 16,777,214 |
| B | 128–191 | /16 (255.255.0.0) | 16,384 | 65,534 |
| C | 192–223 | /24 (255.255.255.0) | 2,097,152 | 254 |
| D | 224–239 | N/A | Multicast groups | — |
| E | 240–255 | N/A | Reserved / experimental | — |
127.x.x.x is reserved for loopback. Modern networks use CIDR (classless) rather than classful addressing.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Configuring Switch Ports for Desktops, VoIP Phones, APs, IoT, and Virtualized Hosts
Key term
Bridge Protocol Data Unit
A Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) is a special message that network switches exchange to detect and prevent loops in an Ethernet network.
Key term
MAC
MAC (Media Access Control) is a unique hardware identifier assigned to network interfaces for communication on a local network segment.
About these practice questions
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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.