Quick Answer
The answer is 1000BASE-T, the IEEE 802.3ab standard that delivers 1 Gbps over Cat5e or Cat6 UTP cabling. This standard is correct because it supports full-duplex gigabit speeds on twisted-pair copper at distances up to 100 meters, and with the switches only 80 meters apart, both cable types are well within that reach. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this question tests your understanding of Ethernet standards and their cable-distance limitations—a common trap is confusing 1000BASE-T with fiber-based standards like 1000BASE-SX or assuming Cat5e cannot handle gigabit speeds. Remember that 1000BASE-T uses all four wire pairs in the cable, which is why Cat5e (tested to 100 MHz) and Cat6 (tested to 250 MHz) both work fine. A helpful memory tip: “T” in 1000BASE-T stands for Twisted-pair, and the “1000” means 1000 Mbps—so if you see UTP and 1 Gbps up to 100 meters, think 1000BASE-T.
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network implementation. 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 needs to connect two switches that are 80 meters apart using UTP cabling and achieve 1 Gbps speed. The administrator has Cat5e and Cat6 cables available. Which standard should be used?
1000BASE-T
1000BASE-T supports 1 Gbps over UTP up to 100 meters, suitable for this distance.
1000BASE-LX
Why wrong: 1000BASE-LX requires single-mode fiber cabling, not UTP.
10GBASE-T
Why wrong: 10GBASE-T requires Cat6a or higher and is designed for 10 Gbps, not necessary for 1 Gbps.
100BASE-TX
Why wrong: 100BASE-TX only supports 100 Mbps, not 1 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
1000BASE-T
1000BASE-T (IEEE 802.3ab) is the correct standard because it supports 1 Gbps over Cat5e or Cat6 UTP cabling at distances up to 100 meters. With 80 meters between switches, both cable types are well within the 100-meter reach, and 1000BASE-T is designed specifically for twisted-pair copper at this speed.
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.
1000BASE-T
Why this is correct
1000BASE-T supports 1 Gbps over UTP up to 100 meters, suitable for this distance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
1000BASE-LX
Why it's wrong here
1000BASE-LX requires single-mode fiber cabling, not UTP.
10GBASE-T
Why it's wrong here
10GBASE-T requires Cat6a or higher and is designed for 10 Gbps, not necessary for 1 Gbps.
100BASE-TX
Why it's wrong here
100BASE-TX only supports 100 Mbps, not 1 Gbps.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may choose 10GBASE-T because they see Cat6 available, forgetting that Cat6 only supports 10GBASE-T up to 55 meters and Cat5e not at all, while 1000BASE-T is the correct match for 1 Gbps over UTP at 80 meters.
Detailed technical explanation
1000BASE-T uses four twisted pairs with 5-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-5) and echo cancellation to achieve 1 Gbps full-duplex over Cat5e or better cabling. A real-world scenario is upgrading a legacy 100BASE-TX network to 1 Gbps without replacing existing Cat5e cabling, as long as the distance is under 100 meters and the cable passes TIA/EIA-568-B certification.
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 N10-009 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
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FAQ
Network Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 1000BASE-T — 1000BASE-T (IEEE 802.3ab) is the correct standard because it supports 1 Gbps over Cat5e or Cat6 UTP cabling at distances up to 100 meters. With 80 meters between switches, both cable types are well within the 100-meter reach, and 1000BASE-T is designed specifically for twisted-pair copper at this speed.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This N10-009 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 N10-009 exam.
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