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350-401 Practice Question: Which three statements about BGP route selection…
Which three statements about BGP route selection are true? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse weight and LOCAL_PREF preference direction, or forget that ORIGIN preference is IGP > EGP > INCOMPLETE, leading them to select D or E incorrectly.
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
✓
A route with a lower MED is preferred over a route with a higher MED when all other factors are equal.
Option A is correct because in the BGP best-path algorithm, when all preceding attributes are equal, the route with the lower Multi-Exit Discriminator (MED) value is preferred over one with a higher MED. Option B is correct because a higher LOCAL_PREF (local preference) is always preferred over a lower LOCAL_PREF, and this attribute is evaluated early in the BGP decision process, before AS_PATH. Option C is correct because a shorter AS_PATH is preferred over a longer AS_PATH when comparing routes, as this attribute is checked after LOCAL_PREF and before ORIGIN. Option D is incorrect because Cisco weight prefers a higher weight, not a lower one. Option E is incorrect because the ORIGIN code preference order is IGP (i) over EGP (e) over INCOMPLETE (?), so EGP is not preferred over IGP.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A route with a lower MED is preferred over a route with a higher MED when all other factors are equal.
Why this is correct
MED, the optional non-transitive metric, is compared between routes from the same neighbouring AS; the lower value wins when earlier attributes such as weight, LOCAL_PREF and AS_PATH length tie. This matches the stem's condition that all other factors are equal.
- ✓
A route with a higher LOCAL_PREF is preferred over a route with a lower LOCAL_PREF.
Why this is correct
LOCAL_PREF is evaluated before MED and AS_PATH in the BGP best-path algorithm, so the higher value is selected. This satisfies the stem's constraint that a higher LOCAL_PREF wins over a lower one, reflecting its role as a local outbound preference.
- ✓
A route with a shorter AS_PATH is preferred over a route with a longer AS_PATH.
Why this is correct
AS_PATH length is compared after weight, LOCAL_PREF and origin, and the shorter path is preferred because it implies fewer autonomous systems traversed. This matches the stem's constraint that a shorter AS_PATH beats a longer one when earlier attributes tie.
- ✗
A route with a lower weight is preferred over a route with a higher weight.
Why it's wrong here
Cisco weight prefers the higher value, so a lower weight loses; the statement inverts the rule. It is tempting because other attributes, such as local preference, also favour higher values, making the direction easy to assume rather than verify.
- ✗
A route with ORIGIN code EGP is preferred over a route with ORIGIN code IGP.
Why it's wrong here
IGP (i) outranks EGP (e), which outranks INCOMPLETE (?), so EGP is not preferred over IGP. It is tempting because EGP sounds like a more authoritative external origin than IGP, inviting an assumption the actual preference order contradicts.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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