- A
The route with higher local preference has a lower weight than the current best path.
Correct because weight is checked before local preference in BGP path selection; a higher weight on the current best path would make it preferred even if local preference is lower.
- B
The route with higher local preference has a higher MED value.
Why wrong: Incorrect because MED is checked after AS_PATH length; since local preference is higher, it would be preferred before considering MED.
- C
The route with higher local preference is not synchronized with IGP.
Why wrong: Incorrect because BGP synchronization is disabled by default and is rarely used; even if enabled, it would cause the route to be invalid, not just not best.
- D
The route with higher local preference was learned from an eBGP peer, while the current best path is from an iBGP peer.
Why wrong: Incorrect because eBGP routes are preferred over iBGP routes (all else equal), but local preference is checked before the source of the route (eBGP vs iBGP).
Quick Answer
The answer is that the route with higher local preference has a lower weight than the current best path. This is correct because BGP’s best path selection algorithm evaluates weight first, before local preference or AS_PATH length. Even though local preference is checked earlier than AS_PATH length in the sequence, weight is the very first criterion—so a route with a higher weight will always win, regardless of a higher local preference on another path. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this question tests your understanding of the precise order of BGP path attributes, a common trap where candidates assume local preference always overrides AS_PATH length without remembering weight’s priority. A useful memory tip is “Weight First, Local Pref Second, AS Path Third”—imagine a scale where weight tips the balance before any other attribute gets a chance.
CCNP BGP Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of bgp. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A network engineer is troubleshooting a BGP issue where a router is not installing a specific prefix in its routing table, even though the prefix is present in the BGP table. The engineer runs 'show ip bgp 10.0.0.0/24' and sees that the route is valid but not best. The BGP table shows that the route has a higher local preference than the current best path, but the AS_PATH is longer. What is the most likely reason the route is not being selected as best?
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.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The route with higher local preference has a lower weight than the current best path.
BGP selects the best path based on a sequence of comparison steps. Local preference is checked before AS_PATH length, so a higher local preference should normally win. However, weight is the very first criterion in the BGP best-path selection algorithm. If the current best path has a higher weight than the route with higher local preference, weight overrides local preference, making the higher-local-preference route not best.
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.
- ✓
The route with higher local preference has a lower weight than the current best path.
Why this is correct
Correct because weight is checked before local preference in BGP path selection; a higher weight on the current best path would make it preferred even if local preference is lower.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The route with higher local preference has a higher MED value.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because MED is checked after AS_PATH length; since local preference is higher, it would be preferred before considering MED.
- ✗
The route with higher local preference is not synchronized with IGP.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because BGP synchronization is disabled by default and is rarely used; even if enabled, it would cause the route to be invalid, not just not best.
- ✗
The route with higher local preference was learned from an eBGP peer, while the current best path is from an iBGP peer.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because eBGP routes are preferred over iBGP routes (all else equal), but local preference is checked before the source of the route (eBGP vs iBGP).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the order of BGP best-path selection steps, specifically that weight is evaluated before local preference, leading candidates to incorrectly assume that a higher local preference always wins regardless of weight.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The BGP best-path selection algorithm evaluates attributes in a strict order: weight (Cisco proprietary), local preference, locally originated, AS_PATH length, origin code, MED, eBGP over iBGP, IGP metric to next-hop, and so on. Weight is configured per-neighbor or via route maps and is not advertised to peers, making it a powerful local tuning tool. In a real-world scenario, an engineer might set a high weight on a backup link to prefer it only for certain prefixes, inadvertently causing a route with higher local preference to lose the best-path selection because weight is checked first.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
BGP — This question tests BGP — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The route with higher local preference has a lower weight than the current best path. — BGP selects the best path based on a sequence of comparison steps. Local preference is checked before AS_PATH length, so a higher local preference should normally win. However, weight is the very first criterion in the BGP best-path selection algorithm. If the current best path has a higher weight than the route with higher local preference, weight overrides local preference, making the higher-local-preference route not best.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 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", "most likely". 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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.
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