The answer is that video traffic is being dropped at a rate of 5 kbps. This is correct because the QoS police statistics show the video class has a committed information rate (CIR) of 20 kbps, and the exceed counter indicates 5 kbps of traffic is being marked as exceeding, which means those packets are dropped under a standard policer action. On the Cisco SPCOR 350-501 exam, interpreting police counters like these is a common way to test your ability to read QoS statistics and identify traffic drops, especially for video streams where bursty traffic often exceeds the configured CIR. A frequent trap is confusing the exceed rate with the conform rate or assuming that any drop means a voice or priority queue issue—here, the voice class shows zero drops, and no LLQ is configured. Memory tip: think of the CIR as a speed limit; the exceed rate is the number of cars (packets) that get pulled over and dropped.
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Router# show policy-map interface GigabitEthernet0/0/0 input
GigabitEthernet0/0/0
Service-policy input: QOS-POLICY
Class-map: VOICE (match-all)
1151375 packets, 108215153 bytes
5 minute offered rate 13000 bps, drop rate 0000 bps
Match: ip dscp ef (46)
police:
cir 10000 bps, bc 1500 bytes
conformed 1151375 packets, 108215153 bytes; actions:
transmit
exceeded 0 packets, 0 bytes; actions:
drop
conformed 13000 bps, exceed 0000 bps
Class-map: VIDEO (match-all)
250000 packets, 35000000 bytes
5 minute offered rate 25000 bps, drop rate 5000 bps
Match: ip dscp af41 (34)
police:
cir 20000 bps, bc 1500 bytes
conformed 200000 packets, 28000000 bytes; actions:
transmit
exceeded 50000 packets, 7000000 bytes; actions:
drop
conformed 20000 bps, exceed 5000 bps
Class-map: class-default (match-any)
500000 packets, 60000000 bytes
5 minute offered rate 50000 bps, drop rate 0000 bps
Match: any
Based on the exhibit, which statement is true about the applied QoS policy?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Video traffic is being dropped at a rate of 5 kbps.
Option B is correct because the video class is exceeding its police rate (CIR 20 kbps) with an exceed rate of 5 kbps, indicating that 5 kbps of video traffic is being dropped. Option A is false because the voice class has no drops. Option C is false because the default class matches any traffic. Option D is false because no priority or LLQ is configured, only policing.
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.
✗
The default class matches only best-effort traffic.
Why it's wrong here
The default class matches 'any', including all traffic not matched by other classes.
✗
The policy uses low-latency queuing for voice.
Why it's wrong here
No priority or LLQ is shown; only policing is applied.
✓
Video traffic is being dropped at a rate of 5 kbps.
Why this is correct
The video class shows an exceed rate of 5 kbps, confirming drops.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Voice traffic is experiencing drops due to policer.
Why it's wrong here
Voice traffic shows zero exceeded packets, so no drops.
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
Command / output trap
No priority or LLQ is shown; only policing is applied.
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 350-501 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 350-501 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.
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: Video traffic is being dropped at a rate of 5 kbps. — Option B is correct because the video class is exceeding its police rate (CIR 20 kbps) with an exceed rate of 5 kbps, indicating that 5 kbps of video traffic is being dropped. Option A is false because the voice class has no drops. Option C is false because the default class matches any traffic. Option D is false because no priority or LLQ is configured, only policing.
What should I do if I get this 350-501 question wrong?
Identify which 350-501 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 →
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. Refer to the exhibit. The policy above is applied on a PE router. The customer complains that voice quality is poor. Based on the exhibit, what is the most likely cause?
medium
✓ A.The police rate for voice is too low for the offered traffic
B.The policy is applied to the wrong direction
C.The class-default is empty
D.The DATA class is not matching any traffic
Why A: The police rate for voice is too low for the offered traffic. Voice traffic requires a guaranteed bandwidth to maintain low jitter and packet loss; if the policer rate is set below the actual voice flow rate, packets are dropped or marked down, causing poor voice quality. In the exhibit, the voice class has a police rate that is insufficient for the offered load, leading to excessive drops.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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