The answer is that the laptop’s IP address is on a different subnet than the coffee shop’s gateway. This is because a device must be on the same logical subnet as its default gateway to send traffic outside the local network; here, the laptop’s IP of 192.168.2.10 falls in the 192.168.2.0/24 subnet, while the coffee shop’s gateway at 192.168.1.1 belongs to the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet, so the laptop cannot even reach the router. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of subnetting and how IP addressing directly affects connectivity—a common trap is assuming any 192.168.x.x address will work on any 192.168 network, but the third octet must match the gateway’s subnet. A quick memory tip: think of subnets like neighborhoods—if your house number is on a different street, you can’t reach the main road.
220-1201 IP Addressing Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of ip addressing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 customer reports that their laptop can connect to the internet at home but not at a coffee shop. The coffee shop uses a /24 subnet with a gateway of 192.168.1.1. The laptop's IP is 192.168.2.10. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Why wrong: DNS issues would affect name resolution, but the laptop cannot even reach the gateway, so this is not the primary cause.
B
The laptop's IP address is on a different subnet than the coffee shop's network.
The laptop's IP (192.168.2.10) is on the 192.168.2.0/24 subnet, while the coffee shop uses 192.168.1.0/24, preventing gateway communication.
C
The wireless card is faulty.
Why wrong: The laptop works at home, so the wireless card is functional; the issue is network configuration.
D
The subnet mask is set to 255.0.0.0.
Why wrong: A /24 subnet mask is 255.255.255.0; using 255.0.0.0 would make the laptop think it's on a larger network, but the specific mismatch here is the IP range.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The laptop's IP address is on a different subnet than the coffee shop's network.
The laptop's IP address is on a different subnet (192.168.2.0/24) than the coffee shop's network (192.168.1.0/24), so it cannot communicate with the gateway. This tests understanding of subnetting and how devices must be on the same subnet to reach the default gateway.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 DNS server address is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
DNS issues would affect name resolution, but the laptop cannot even reach the gateway, so this is not the primary cause.
✓
The laptop's IP address is on a different subnet than the coffee shop's network.
Why this is correct
The laptop's IP (192.168.2.10) is on the 192.168.2.0/24 subnet, while the coffee shop uses 192.168.1.0/24, preventing gateway communication.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
The laptop works at home, so the wireless card is functional; the issue is network configuration.
✗
The subnet mask is set to 255.0.0.0.
Why it's wrong here
A /24 subnet mask is 255.255.255.0; using 255.0.0.0 would make the laptop think it's on a larger network, but the specific mismatch here is the IP range.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 220-1201 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
IP Addressing — This question tests IP Addressing — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The laptop's IP address is on a different subnet than the coffee shop's network. — The laptop's IP address is on a different subnet (192.168.2.0/24) than the coffee shop's network (192.168.1.0/24), so it cannot communicate with the gateway. This tests understanding of subnetting and how devices must be on the same subnet to reach the default gateway.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 220-1201 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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