The answer is that UDP does not guarantee packet delivery or order, which is the characteristic that explains performance issues under heavy load. Unlike TCP, UDP is a connectionless protocol that sends datagrams without establishing a session, so it never retransmits lost packets. When a network is congested, dropped packets simply vanish, and the application must handle the loss itself—often leading to slowdowns or data corruption at the database level. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the fundamental trade-off between UDP’s speed and its lack of reliability. A common trap is assuming all protocols retransmit lost data; remember that TCP ensures delivery through acknowledgments and retransmission, while UDP is “fire and forget.” For a quick memory tip, think “UDP: Unreliable Datagram Protocol—no delivery promises, no order, no retries.”
220-1101 TCP & UDP Ports Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of tcp & udp ports. 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.
A network administrator notices that a critical database server is responding slowly. The server uses both TCP and UDP for different services. Which of the following is a characteristic of UDP that could explain performance issues under heavy load?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
UDP does not guarantee packet delivery or order
UDP is connectionless and does not guarantee delivery, so it does not retransmit lost packets. Under heavy load, packet loss can increase without recovery, causing application-level issues. TCP retransmits lost packets, which can add latency but ensures delivery.
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.
✗
UDP retransmits lost packets automatically
Why it's wrong here
UDP does not retransmit lost packets; that is a TCP feature.
✗
UDP uses a three-way handshake to establish a connection
Why it's wrong here
UDP is connectionless and does not use a handshake; TCP does.
✓
UDP does not guarantee packet delivery or order
Why this is correct
UDP is unreliable and does not guarantee delivery or ordering, which can cause data loss under heavy load.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
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.
TCP & UDP Ports — This question tests TCP & UDP Ports — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: UDP does not guarantee packet delivery or order — UDP is connectionless and does not guarantee delivery, so it does not retransmit lost packets. Under heavy load, packet loss can increase without recovery, causing application-level issues. TCP retransmits lost packets, which can add latency but ensures delivery.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.