Cisco Certified Technician Routing & Switching Practice Exam

Cisco Certified Technician Routing & Switching Exam Prep

Elevate your Cisco credentials and network support expertise with a thoughtfully designed, hands-on practice test focused on the Routing & Switching certification. This dynamic tool mirrors the structure and real-world scope of the official certification exam, helping you build both confidence and competence before entering the testing environment.

Why This Practice Test Stands Out

The practice test is crafted to sharpen your understanding of essential Cisco technologies—whether you’re starting a networking journey or looking to reinforce your troubleshooting skills. It dives into core networking concepts such as VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), routing protocols (EIGRP, OSPF), IP subnetting, and network device configuration. You’ll gain familiarity with IOS command-line usage and common diagnostic techniques, all presented in engaging, scenario-based questions.

Key Skills You’ll Develop

• Efficient VLAN Management – Understand trunk vs access ports, VLAN ranges, and virtual LAN implementation.
• Loop Prevention Mastery – Learn how STP prevents broadcast storms and network loops for stable operations.
• Proficiency with Cisco Protocols – Gain hands-on knowledge of CDP for device discovery, VTP and DTP for VLAN integrity, and administrative distance for routing reliability.
• Routing Fundamentals – Interpret routing tables and apply subinterface and 802.1Q concepts for inter-VLAN routing.
• IOS Command Fluency – Practice essential commands for configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting, such as IP interface checks, MAC table displays, and version summaries.
• Device Management Best Practices – Implement strategies for port security, time synchronization using NTP, interface control, and secure remote access via SSH vs Telnet.

Who Will Benefit Most

• Aspiring Network Technicians eager to validate their competency in Cisco routing and switching.
• IT Support Professionals aiming to strengthen troubleshooting and configuration skills across various Cisco devices.
• Entry-Level Networking Candidates seeking a reliable preparation tool that mirrors exam rigor without overwhelming technical jargon.
• Self-Directed Learners who value explanations, precise answer breakdowns, and realistic question formats in their study routine.

Advantages of Using This Practice Test

• Authentic Exam Simulation – Experience a testing environment that aligns with the official certification in both breadth and depth.
• Expertly Curated Content – Study the most relevant topics in Cisco routing and switching, presented clearly and effectively.
• Concept-Based Learning – Beyond memorization, understand the “why” behind each answer with detailed rationales that build long-term retention.
• Flexible Online Access – Review anytime, anywhere—at your own pace, on your terms. Ideal for balancing study with busy schedules.
• Career-Ready Confidence – Gain practical skills suited for real-life network deployment and support roles, not just exam day.

In short, this practice test is more than a prep tool—it’s a pathway to becoming a confident, capable Cisco technician. With rigorous questions, clear explanations, and a focus on practical application, you’re well-positioned to succeed on the exam and in future networking roles.

Sample Questions and Answers

Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for routing packets across different networks?

A. Data Link
B. Transport
C. Network
D. Physical

Correct Answer: C. Network
Explanation: The Network layer (Layer 3) is responsible for path determination and logical addressing, allowing packets to be routed between networks using IP addresses.

What is the purpose of the ARP protocol?

A. Assign IP addresses dynamically
B. Translate IP addresses to MAC addresses
C. Route packets between networks
D. Encrypt data during transmission

Correct Answer: B. Translate IP addresses to MAC addresses
Explanation: ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses within a local network.

Which Cisco command displays the status of interfaces on a switch?

A. show ip interface brief
B. show interfaces status
C. show running-config
D. show vlan

Correct Answer: A. show ip interface brief
Explanation: This command provides a concise summary of all interfaces, including their IP address, status, and protocol state.

What is the default administrative distance of a static route in Cisco IOS?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 90
D. 110

Correct Answer: B. 1
Explanation: Static routes have an administrative distance of 1, making them more preferred than routes learned via dynamic protocols like OSPF or EIGRP.

What is the function of VLANs in a network?

A. Increase physical ports
B. Encrypt data between switches
C. Segment a broadcast domain
D. Monitor network traffic

Correct Answer: C. Segment a broadcast domain
Explanation: VLANs separate broadcast domains in a switched network, improving performance and security.

Which command would you use to save the configuration to NVRAM on a Cisco device?

A. copy running-config startup-config
B. write erase
C. reload
D. show version

Correct Answer: A. copy running-config startup-config
Explanation: This command saves the current running configuration to the startup configuration file in NVRAM.

What does the “ping” command verify?

A. IP-to-MAC resolution
B. Network Layer connectivity
C. VLAN configuration
D. Routing protocol operation

Correct Answer: B. Network Layer connectivity
Explanation: The ping command uses ICMP to test IP connectivity between devices.

Which protocol is used to automatically assign IP addresses in a network?

A. DNS
B. NAT
C. DHCP
D. ARP

Correct Answer: C. DHCP
Explanation: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) dynamically assigns IP addresses and configuration to devices on the network.

What type of memory on a Cisco router stores the IOS image?

A. RAM
B. NVRAM
C. ROM
D. Flash

Correct Answer: D. Flash
Explanation: The Cisco IOS image is stored in flash memory, which retains its contents after a reboot.

Which protocol provides loop prevention in a Layer 2 network?

A. OSPF
B. STP
C. EIGRP
D. CDP

Correct Answer: B. STP
Explanation: The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) prevents Layer 2 loops in a network by blocking redundant paths.

What is the default VLAN on Cisco switches?

A. VLAN 0
B. VLAN 10
C. VLAN 99
D. VLAN 1

Correct Answer: D. VLAN 1
Explanation: By default, all switch ports are assigned to VLAN 1 until configured otherwise.

Which command shows the MAC address table on a Cisco switch?

A. show mac-address-table
B. show arp
C. show interface mac
D. show vlan

Correct Answer: A. show mac-address-table
Explanation: This command displays MAC addresses learned on each switch port and the associated VLANs.

What is the role of a default gateway in a network?

A. Encrypts outgoing packets
B. Filters incoming packets
C. Routes packets to external networks
D. Assigns IP addresses to clients

Correct Answer: C. Routes packets to external networks
Explanation: The default gateway routes traffic from the local network to destinations outside the subnet.

Which cable is used to connect a PC to a Cisco console port?

A. Ethernet crossover
B. Fiber optic
C. Rollover
D. Straight-through

Correct Answer: C. Rollover
Explanation: A rollover cable (console cable) is used to connect to the console port for device management.

Which command shows the version of IOS running on a Cisco device?

A. show config
B. show ip route
C. show version
D. show startup

Correct Answer: C. show version
Explanation: This command displays IOS version, system image file, uptime, and device model.

What is a common reason for a port to be in an “err-disabled” state?

A. Incorrect IP address
B. Port security violation
C. Duplex mismatch
D. Cable unplugged

Correct Answer: B. Port security violation
Explanation: Security violations such as MAC address mismatches can cause the port to be automatically shut down.

What is the main function of a switch in a network?

A. Forward packets based on IP address
B. Translate domain names
C. Segment collision domains
D. Assign VLANs

Correct Answer: C. Segment collision domains
Explanation: Switches reduce collisions by creating separate collision domains per port.

What command do you use to enter interface configuration mode?

A. config terminal
B. enable interface
C. interface [type] [number]
D. configure interface

Correct Answer: C. interface [type] [number]
Explanation: This command is used from global configuration mode to enter interface configuration mode.

Which protocol does a switch use to learn MAC addresses?

A. ARP
B. CDP
C. STP
D. It learns passively

Correct Answer: D. It learns passively
Explanation: Switches learn MAC addresses by examining the source MAC of incoming frames.

What does CDP stand for?

A. Cisco Data Protocol
B. Cisco Discovery Protocol
C. Central Discovery Platform
D. Cisco Device Path

Correct Answer: B. Cisco Discovery Protocol
Explanation: CDP is a Layer 2 Cisco proprietary protocol used to discover neighboring Cisco devices.