This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of cabling. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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.
A company is upgrading its network to support 10 Gbps connections between server racks. The distance between racks is 25 meters. Which cabling standard is most appropriate for this upgrade?
Cat5e cable.
Why wrong: Cat5e only supports 1 Gbps, not 10 Gbps.
Cat6 cable.
Why wrong: Cat6 supports 10 Gbps only up to 55 meters, but Cat6a is more reliable and standard for 10 Gbps.
Cat6a cable.
Cat6a supports 10 Gbps up to 100 meters, making it ideal for 25-meter rack connections.
Cat7 cable.
Why wrong: Cat7 is not a TIA/EIA standard and is less common; Cat6a is the appropriate standard for 10 Gbps.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Cat6a cable.
This question tests knowledge of cabling standards for high-speed Ethernet. Cat6a is rated for 10 Gbps up to 100 meters, making it suitable for this distance. The correct answer distinguishes Cat6a from Cat6, which has shorter 10 Gbps support.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Cat5e cable.
Why it's wrong here
Cat5e only supports 1 Gbps, not 10 Gbps.
Cat6 cable.
Why it's wrong here
Cat6 supports 10 Gbps only up to 55 meters, but Cat6a is more reliable and standard for 10 Gbps.
Cat6a cable.
Why this is correct
Cat6a supports 10 Gbps up to 100 meters, making it ideal for 25-meter rack connections.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Cat7 cable.
Why it's wrong here
Cat7 is not a TIA/EIA standard and is less common; Cat6a is the appropriate standard for 10 Gbps.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 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
Identify which 220-1201 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.
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FAQ
Cabling — This question tests Cabling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Cat6a cable. — This question tests knowledge of cabling standards for high-speed Ethernet. Cat6a is rated for 10 Gbps up to 100 meters, making it suitable for this distance. The correct answer distinguishes Cat6a from Cat6, which has shorter 10 Gbps support.
Identify which 220-1201 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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1201 exam.
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