- A
Create a child policy with class-maps for voice and data; create a parent policy that applies the child policy and shapes to 10 Mbps; apply parent policy to the interface.
This is the correct hierarchical QoS design: child policy handles classification and queuing, parent policy shapes the aggregate traffic.
- B
Apply a service-policy out with shape and then apply another service-policy in with priority; both on the same interface.
Why wrong: Two service policies on the same interface in the same direction is not supported; hierarchical QoS uses one policy applied to the interface.
- C
Apply a single policy-map that includes both shape and priority; no hierarchy needed.
Why wrong: Single-level policy cannot simultaneously shape and provide per-class queuing; hierarchical QoS is required.
- D
Use a policy-map with shape average 10 Mbps and then use the bandwidth command for voice and data classes; no hierarchy.
Why wrong: Shaping at the same level as queuing can cause conflicts; hierarchical QoS is needed to separate shaping and queuing.
350-501 Automation and Quality of Services Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of automation and quality of services. 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 network engineer needs to implement hierarchical QoS on a PE router to shape customer traffic to a contracted rate of 10 Mbps while providing priority for voice traffic and bandwidth guarantee for critical data. Which MQC configuration correctly achieves this?
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
Create a child policy with class-maps for voice and data; create a parent policy that applies the child policy and shapes to 10 Mbps; apply parent policy to the interface.
Hierarchical QoS (HQoS) is required when you need to shape traffic to a contracted rate (e.g., 10 Mbps) while also applying per-class actions like priority and bandwidth guarantees. Option A correctly uses a child policy to define class-based QoS (priority for voice, bandwidth for critical data) and a parent policy that applies the shape average command to the entire child policy aggregate, enforcing the 10 Mbps contract. This two-level MQC structure ensures that shaping occurs at the parent level before the child policy’s per-class queuing and scheduling are applied.
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.
- ✓
Create a child policy with class-maps for voice and data; create a parent policy that applies the child policy and shapes to 10 Mbps; apply parent policy to the interface.
Why this is correct
This is the correct hierarchical QoS design: child policy handles classification and queuing, parent policy shapes the aggregate traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Apply a service-policy out with shape and then apply another service-policy in with priority; both on the same interface.
Why it's wrong here
Two service policies on the same interface in the same direction is not supported; hierarchical QoS uses one policy applied to the interface.
- ✗
Apply a single policy-map that includes both shape and priority; no hierarchy needed.
Why it's wrong here
Single-level policy cannot simultaneously shape and provide per-class queuing; hierarchical QoS is required.
- ✗
Use a policy-map with shape average 10 Mbps and then use the bandwidth command for voice and data classes; no hierarchy.
Why it's wrong here
Shaping at the same level as queuing can cause conflicts; hierarchical QoS is needed to separate shaping and queuing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a single policy-map can combine shape and priority/bandwidth, but Cisco specifically tests that hierarchical QoS is mandatory when you need to shape an aggregate rate while applying per-class queuing actions, as shape average in a flat policy acts per-class, not on the total traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, HQoS uses a two-level scheduler: the parent policy’s shape average creates a token bucket that meters the aggregate output rate, while the child policy’s priority and bandwidth commands configure the low-latency queuing (LLQ) and CBWFQ mechanisms within that shaped pipe. In real-world SP deployments, this ensures that voice traffic (marked with EF) is always served first within the 10 Mbps contract, and critical data (e.g., AF classes) receives a minimum bandwidth guarantee, while best-effort traffic uses remaining capacity—all without exceeding the customer’s subscribed rate.
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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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: Create a child policy with class-maps for voice and data; create a parent policy that applies the child policy and shapes to 10 Mbps; apply parent policy to the interface. — Hierarchical QoS (HQoS) is required when you need to shape traffic to a contracted rate (e.g., 10 Mbps) while also applying per-class actions like priority and bandwidth guarantees. Option A correctly uses a child policy to define class-based QoS (priority for voice, bandwidth for critical data) and a parent policy that applies the shape average command to the entire child policy aggregate, enforcing the 10 Mbps contract. This two-level MQC structure ensures that shaping occurs at the parent level before the child policy’s per-class queuing and scheduling are applied.
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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