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350-401 Practice Question: Which two statements about BGP route selection…
Which two statements about BGP route selection are true? (Choose two.)
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 higher LOCAL_PREF is preferred over a route with a lower LOCAL_PREF.
Option A is correct because LOCAL_PREF is evaluated early in the BGP best-path algorithm (after weight and before AS_PATH), and a higher LOCAL_PREF value is always preferred over a lower one. Option B is correct because, all other attributes being equal, eBGP-learned routes are preferred over iBGP-learned routes, since eBGP routes are considered more trustworthy and are evaluated before the IGP metric tiebreaker. Option C is incorrect because BGP prefers the shorter AS_PATH, not the longer one, to minimize the number of autonomous systems traversed. Option D is incorrect because MED is only compared between routes from the same neighboring AS by default (unless bgp always-compare-med is configured). Option E is incorrect because the IGP metric to the next hop is one of the last tiebreakers in the BGP path selection process, not the first criterion.
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 higher LOCAL_PREF is preferred over a route with a lower LOCAL_PREF.
Why this is correct
LOCAL_PREF is evaluated early in the BGP best-path algorithm, before AS_PATH and origin. A higher value signals local preference, so the route with the greater LOCAL_PREF wins, directly satisfying the statement about preference ordering between competing paths.
- ✓
A route learned via eBGP is preferred over a route learned via iBGP, all else being equal.
Why this is correct
After weight and LOCAL_PREF, BGP prefers eBGP-learned routes over iBGP-learned ones. This reflects the assumption that externally learned paths are more trustworthy, so the eBGP route wins when all other attributes are equal, as the statement describes.
- ✗
A route with a longer AS_PATH is preferred over a route with a shorter AS_PATH.
Why it's wrong here
BGP prefers the shorter AS_PATH, so a longer path loses the selection; AS_PATH length is compared after weight, local preference and locally originated checks. It is tempting because longer paths can indicate more specific routing policy, but AS_PATH is a shortest-path tiebreaker, not a longest-path preference.
- ✗
The MED attribute is always compared regardless of the AS of the neighbor.
Why it's wrong here
MED is compared only between paths from the same neighbouring AS; from different ASs it is ignored unless bgp always-compare-med is set. It tempts because MED does influence path preference, but only within a single AS's inbound announcements.
- ✗
The IGP metric to the next hop is the first criterion in BGP path selection.
Why it's wrong here
The IGP metric to the next hop is evaluated late, after weight, local preference, locally originated, AS_PATH, origin and MED, so it cannot be the first criterion. It is tempting because reachability cost matters, but it only breaks ties once all earlier attributes are equal.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.