- A
Configure a policer on the voice class to limit its bandwidth
Policing the voice class prevents it from exceeding a set rate, protecting other classes from starvation.
- B
Enable WRED on the voice class
Why wrong: WRED is for congestion avoidance; it is not appropriate for real-time voice traffic as it introduces drops.
- C
Use tail drop with a high threshold for the data class
Why wrong: Tail drop does not guarantee bandwidth; it only drops packets when the queue is full.
- D
Allocate a minimum bandwidth guarantee to the data class
A bandwidth guarantee ensures that the data class always receives a minimum amount of link capacity, even when voice bursts.
- E
Configure a shape on the voice class to 75% of interface bandwidth
Why wrong: Shaping buffers traffic but does not drop; it is not typically used on real-time traffic due to added delay.
Quick Answer
The correct actions are to police the voice class and allocate a minimum bandwidth guarantee to the data class. Policing the voice class with a configured rate, such as using the `police` command under the class-map, directly prevents voice bursts from consuming excess bandwidth, which is essential for protecting critical data from voice bursts in QoS. Simultaneously, allocating a minimum bandwidth guarantee to the data class via the `bandwidth` command ensures that even during a voice burst, the data class receives a reserved amount of link capacity, preventing starvation. On the Cisco SPCOR 350-501 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how policing enforces admission control while the `bandwidth` command provides a hard reservation, a common trap being to confuse policing with shaping or to rely solely on queuing. Remember the mnemonic “Police the talker, reserve for the worker” to recall that voice is policed and data is guaranteed a minimum share.
350-501 Automation and Quality of Service Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of automation and quality of service. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 implementing QoS on a Cisco ASR 1000 for a customer with multiple service classes. The customer requires that mission-critical data not be starved when voice traffic bursts. Which two actions should the engineer take? (Choose two.)
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
Configure a policer on the voice class to limit its bandwidth
Option A is correct because policing the voice class limits its bandwidth to a configured rate (e.g., using the `police` command under the class-map), preventing voice bursts from starving mission-critical data. This ensures that voice traffic does not exceed its allocated share, leaving enough bandwidth for other classes. Option D is correct because allocating a minimum bandwidth guarantee to the data class (e.g., using the `bandwidth` command under the class-map) ensures that even when voice bursts occur, the data class receives a reserved amount of bandwidth, preventing starvation. Together, these actions enforce admission control and bandwidth reservation, aligning with the customer's requirement.
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.
- ✓
Configure a policer on the voice class to limit its bandwidth
Why this is correct
Policing the voice class prevents it from exceeding a set rate, protecting other classes from starvation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable WRED on the voice class
Why it's wrong here
WRED is for congestion avoidance; it is not appropriate for real-time voice traffic as it introduces drops.
- ✗
Use tail drop with a high threshold for the data class
Why it's wrong here
Tail drop does not guarantee bandwidth; it only drops packets when the queue is full.
- ✓
Allocate a minimum bandwidth guarantee to the data class
Why this is correct
A bandwidth guarantee ensures that the data class always receives a minimum amount of link capacity, even when voice bursts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure a shape on the voice class to 75% of interface bandwidth
Why it's wrong here
Shaping buffers traffic but does not drop; it is not typically used on real-time traffic due to added delay.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between policing (which limits bandwidth) and shaping (which buffers and smooths traffic), and between bandwidth guarantees (which reserve capacity) and WRED (which manages congestion but does not prevent starvation), leading candidates to confuse these mechanisms.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco IOS XE on the ASR 1000, policing uses a token bucket algorithm to enforce a committed information rate (CIR) and can mark or drop excess traffic, while the `bandwidth` command under a class-map in a policy map allocates a minimum guaranteed bandwidth (in kbps or as a percentage) using the MDRR (Modified Deficit Round Robin) queuing scheduler. For mission-critical data, using the `bandwidth remaining` command can also be effective to guarantee a share of excess bandwidth. In real-world scenarios, voice traffic bursts (e.g., during call setup or fax pass-through) can spike above the CIR, and policing ensures these bursts are contained, while the data class's minimum guarantee is enforced by the scheduler even under congestion.
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 practitioner preparing for the 350-501 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Automation and Quality of Service — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-501 question test?
Automation and Quality of Service — This question tests Automation and Quality of Service — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a policer on the voice class to limit its bandwidth — Option A is correct because policing the voice class limits its bandwidth to a configured rate (e.g., using the `police` command under the class-map), preventing voice bursts from starving mission-critical data. This ensures that voice traffic does not exceed its allocated share, leaving enough bandwidth for other classes. Option D is correct because allocating a minimum bandwidth guarantee to the data class (e.g., using the `bandwidth` command under the class-map) ensures that even when voice bursts occur, the data class receives a reserved amount of bandwidth, preventing starvation. Together, these actions enforce admission control and bandwidth reservation, aligning with the customer's requirement.
What should I do if I get this 350-501 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This 350-501 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 350-501 exam.
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