The answer is policing. Policing is the correct QoS feature because it drops traffic that exceeds a configured rate while allowing bursts up to a specified amount, enforcing the committed information rate (CIR) and burst sizes (Bc/Be) by immediately discarding or re-marking packets that violate the contract. Shaping, by contrast, buffers excess traffic in a queue, smoothing the flow rather than dropping it, which makes policing the precise tool for this requirement. On the Cisco SPCOR / CCNP Service Provider Core 350-501 exam, this distinction tests your understanding of how service providers enforce traffic contracts at ingress versus egress; a common trap is confusing policing’s drop behavior with shaping’s delay behavior. Remember the memory tip: “Police drop, shape delay”—if the goal is to drop excess traffic, always choose policing.
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.
An SP engineer is configuring QoS on a router and needs to drop traffic that exceeds a certain rate while allowing bursts up to a specified amount. Which QoS feature should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Policing
Policing is the correct QoS feature because it drops traffic that exceeds a configured rate while allowing bursts up to a specified amount. Unlike shaping, which buffers excess traffic, policing enforces a rate limit by immediately dropping or re-marking packets that exceed the configured committed information rate (CIR) and burst size (Bc/Be). This matches the requirement to drop traffic that exceeds a certain rate while permitting bursts.
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.
✗
Shaping
Why it's wrong here
Shaping buffers traffic to meet a target rate, but does not drop exceeding traffic; it queues it.
✗
WRED
Why it's wrong here
WRED is a congestion avoidance mechanism that drops packets based on queue depth, not a fixed rate.
✓
Policing
Why this is correct
Policing uses a token bucket to enforce a maximum data rate; excess packets are either dropped or re-marked.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Queueing
Why it's wrong here
Queueing manages the order of packet transmission, not rate enforcement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between policing (drops excess traffic) and shaping (buffers excess traffic), so the trap here is that candidates may confuse 'allowing bursts' with shaping's buffering behavior, but policing explicitly permits bursts up to a configured size before dropping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Policing uses a token bucket algorithm where tokens are added at the configured rate (CIR) up to a maximum burst size (Bc). Each packet consumes tokens equal to its byte size; if insufficient tokens are available, the packet is dropped or re-marked (e.g., set to a lower IP precedence). In Cisco IOS, the 'police' command under MQC (Modular QoS CLI) allows specifying conform, exceed, and violate actions, enabling precise control over bursts and rate enforcement without introducing delay from buffering.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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.
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: Policing — Policing is the correct QoS feature because it drops traffic that exceeds a configured rate while allowing bursts up to a specified amount. Unlike shaping, which buffers excess traffic, policing enforces a rate limit by immediately dropping or re-marking packets that exceed the configured committed information rate (CIR) and burst size (Bc/Be). This matches the requirement to drop traffic that exceeds a certain rate while permitting bursts.
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.
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Question Discussion
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