- A
503 Service Unavailable
Why wrong: 503 is for server-side unavailability, not client rate limiting.
- B
400 Bad Request
Why wrong: 400 is for malformed requests, not rate limiting.
- C
429 Too Many Requests
This status code explicitly indicates the client has sent too many requests in a given time.
- D
401 Unauthorized
Why wrong: 401 is for missing or invalid authentication.
Question 155 of 1,000
200-901 Software Development and Design Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of software development and design. 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.
In the context of REST API design, which HTTP status code should be returned when a client sends a request that exceeds the API rate limit?
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
✓
429 Too Many Requests
Option C (429 Too Many Requests) is correct because RFC 6585 defines this status code specifically for cases where a client has sent too many requests in a given time frame, exceeding the API's rate limit. REST APIs use this response to enforce throttling and inform the client to back off, often including a Retry-After header to indicate when to retry.
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.
- ✗
503 Service Unavailable
Why it's wrong here
503 is for server-side unavailability, not client rate limiting.
- ✗
400 Bad Request
Why it's wrong here
400 is for malformed requests, not rate limiting.
- ✓
429 Too Many Requests
Why this is correct
This status code explicitly indicates the client has sent too many requests in a given time.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
401 Unauthorized
Why it's wrong here
401 is for missing or invalid authentication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between server-side errors (5xx) and client-side rate-limit errors (429), where candidates mistakenly choose 503 Service Unavailable because they confuse server overload with client rate limiting.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, rate limiting is often implemented using token bucket or sliding window algorithms, and the 429 response may include a Retry-After header (in seconds) or a custom X-RateLimit-Reset header. In real-world scenarios, APIs like GitHub's REST API return 429 with a Retry-After header when a user exceeds 5,000 requests per hour for authenticated requests, helping clients implement exponential backoff.
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 200-901 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 200-901 question test?
Software Development and Design — This question tests Software Development and Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 429 Too Many Requests — Option C (429 Too Many Requests) is correct because RFC 6585 defines this status code specifically for cases where a client has sent too many requests in a given time frame, exceeding the API's rate limit. REST APIs use this response to enforce throttling and inform the client to back off, often including a Retry-After header to indicate when to retry.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 200-901 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 200-901 exam.
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