- A
Policing can be applied in both the inbound and outbound directions on an interface.
Correct because policing is supported on both input and output directions in Cisco IOS.
- B
Shaping buffers excess packets and may introduce additional delay.
Correct because shaping queues packets that exceed the rate, causing delay but preventing drops.
- C
Policing uses a token bucket algorithm to measure traffic rates.
Correct because both policing and shaping commonly use token bucket mechanisms.
- D
Shaping can be applied inbound to limit traffic entering an interface.
Why wrong: Incorrect because shaping is typically applied outbound; inbound shaping is not supported in most Cisco IOS versions.
- E
Policing always drops packets that exceed the configured rate and never re-marks them.
Why wrong: Incorrect because policing can be configured to re-mark (e.g., set a lower IP precedence) instead of dropping, using the 'police' command with 'set-dscp-transmit' or similar actions.
Quick Answer
The answer is that policing uses a token bucket algorithm to measure traffic rates, and both policing and shaping rely on this mechanism, but they handle excess traffic differently. Policing drops or re-marks traffic exceeding a configured rate without buffering, while shaping buffers packets and smooths the output to a lower rate, introducing delay but reducing drops. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this distinction tests your understanding of QoS behavior under congestion—a common trap is assuming shaping can be applied inbound, when it is typically outbound, whereas policing works both directions. Remember that policing is a “drop or mark” cop on the beat, while shaping is a “buffer and smooth” traffic engineer; for a memory tip, think of the token bucket as a common fuel tank, but policing spills excess fuel immediately, while shaping stores it for later use.
CCNP QoS Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of qos. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 three statements about policing and shaping are true? (Choose three.)
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
Policing can be applied in both the inbound and outbound directions on an interface.
Policing drops or re-marks traffic exceeding a rate and does not buffer, while shaping buffers and smooths traffic to a lower rate. Both use token bucket algorithms. Shaping introduces delay but reduces drops, whereas policing can cause TCP retransmissions due to drops. Policing can be applied inbound or outbound, shaping typically outbound.
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.
- ✓
Policing can be applied in both the inbound and outbound directions on an interface.
Why this is correct
Correct because policing is supported on both input and output directions in Cisco IOS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Shaping buffers excess packets and may introduce additional delay.
Why this is correct
Correct because shaping queues packets that exceed the rate, causing delay but preventing drops.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Policing uses a token bucket algorithm to measure traffic rates.
Why this is correct
Correct because both policing and shaping commonly use token bucket mechanisms.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Shaping can be applied inbound to limit traffic entering an interface.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because shaping is typically applied outbound; inbound shaping is not supported in most Cisco IOS versions.
- ✗
Policing always drops packets that exceed the configured rate and never re-marks them.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because policing can be configured to re-mark (e.g., set a lower IP precedence) instead of dropping, using the 'police' command with 'set-dscp-transmit' or similar actions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Incorrect because policing can be configured to re-mark (e.g., set a lower IP precedence) instead of dropping, using the 'police' command with 'set-dscp-transmit' or similar actions.
Command / output trap
Incorrect because policing can be configured to re-mark (e.g., set a lower IP precedence) instead of dropping, using the 'police' command with 'set-dscp-transmit' or similar actions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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QoS — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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QoS practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
QoS — This question tests QoS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Policing can be applied in both the inbound and outbound directions on an interface. — Policing drops or re-marks traffic exceeding a rate and does not buffer, while shaping buffers and smooths traffic to a lower rate. Both use token bucket algorithms. Shaping introduces delay but reduces drops, whereas policing can cause TCP retransmissions due to drops. Policing can be applied inbound or outbound, shaping typically outbound.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 350-401
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. Which two statements about policing and shaping are true? (Choose two.)
medium- ✓ A.Policing can be configured on both ingress and egress interfaces, whereas shaping is typically applied only on egress interfaces.
- B.Shaping drops packets that exceed the configured rate, while policing buffers them to meet the rate.
- ✓ C.Both policing and shaping use a token bucket algorithm to measure traffic rates.
- D.Shaping is more suitable than policing for traffic that must be dropped immediately, such as scavenger-class traffic.
- E.Policing always introduces additional latency due to queuing, while shaping does not.
Why A: Policing drops or re-marks packets that exceed a configured rate, while shaping buffers excess packets and delays them to smooth traffic. Policing can be applied inbound or outbound, but shaping is typically outbound only. Shaping uses a buffer, which can introduce jitter.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 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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