- A
DSCP 26
Why wrong: Incorrect; DSCP 26 is not a standard EF value.
- B
DSCP 46
Correct; DSCP 46 (EF) is used for voice.
- C
DSCP 34
Why wrong: Incorrect; DSCP 34 is AF41 voice-admit, not standard voice.
- D
DSCP 0
Why wrong: Incorrect; DSCP 0 is best effort.
Question 592 of 1,000
350-501 Automation and Quality of Services Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of automation and quality of services. 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.
A service provider is implementing QoS for voice traffic using the DiffServ model. Which DSCP value should be assigned to voice packets to ensure the highest priority treatment?
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
✓
DSCP 46
DSCP 46 (binary 101110) corresponds to the Per-Hop Behavior (PHB) of Expedited Forwarding (EF), which is defined in RFC 3246 for low-loss, low-latency, and low-jitter treatment. Voice traffic requires the highest priority in a DiffServ domain, and EF (DSCP 46) is the standard marking for voice bearer packets to ensure they receive strict priority queuing.
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.
- ✗
DSCP 26
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; DSCP 26 is not a standard EF value.
- ✓
DSCP 46
Why this is correct
Correct; DSCP 46 (EF) is used for voice.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
DSCP 34
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; DSCP 34 is AF41 voice-admit, not standard voice.
- ✗
DSCP 0
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; DSCP 0 is best effort.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between voice bearer (DSCP 46/EF) and voice signaling (DSCP 26/AF31), so the trap here is that candidates may confuse DSCP 26 (signaling) with the highest priority for voice payloads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, DSCP 46 (EF) uses a code point of 101110, and routers configured with MQC (Modular QoS CLI) typically map this to a strict priority queue (LLQ) to guarantee low latency. In real-world deployments, voice bearer packets (RTP) use DSCP EF (46), while voice signaling (SIP, H.323) uses DSCP AF31 (26) or CS3 (24), a distinction often tested on the 350-501 exam. Misconfiguring signaling with EF can cause unnecessary queue starvation for actual voice payloads.
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 Services — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-501 question test?
Automation and Quality of Services — This question tests Automation and Quality of Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DSCP 46 — DSCP 46 (binary 101110) corresponds to the Per-Hop Behavior (PHB) of Expedited Forwarding (EF), which is defined in RFC 3246 for low-loss, low-latency, and low-jitter treatment. Voice traffic requires the highest priority in a DiffServ domain, and EF (DSCP 46) is the standard marking for voice bearer packets to ensure they receive strict priority queuing.
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: Jul 4, 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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