Cisco CCST Networking 100-150 Practice Test

Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking is Cisco’s entry-level networking certification for candidates who need to show foundational network support skills before CCNA. It focuses on how networks operate, including devices, media, protocols, addressing, security basics, wireless concepts, and troubleshooting workflow.

This page includes 12 original sample questions for initial review. Full CCST Networking practice is not live in IT Mastery yet; use the preview to confirm whether this is your target exam and use Notify me if you want updates for this route.

CCST Networking snapshot

• Vendor: Cisco
• Certification: Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking
• Exam code: 100-150
• Official exam time shown by Cisco: 50 minutes
• Route fit: entry-level networking support, help desk, network technician, and CCNA preparation
• Current IT Mastery status: Sample questions

What these questions test

• recognizing common network devices, media, topologies, and connection types
• applying IPv4 addressing, subnet masks, default gateways, DNS, DHCP, and basic routing concepts
• identifying Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 3 symptoms during entry-level troubleshooting
• distinguishing wireless, security, and basic network management concepts
• choosing the next reasonable support action without over-escalating or guessing

CCST Networking versus CCNA

If CCNA feels too broad, CCST Networking can be a cleaner first Cisco target. If you already troubleshoot VLANs, routing, ACLs, NAT, wireless, and automation basics, open the CCNA 200-301 page instead.

Sample Exam Questions

Try these 12 original sample questions for Cisco CCST Networking 100-150. They are designed for self-assessment and are not official Cisco exam questions.

Question 1

Topic: default gateway

A workstation can print to a network printer on the same subnet, but it cannot reach websites or servers on other subnets. The IP address and subnet mask are correct. What should the technician check first?

• A. The switch hostname.
• B. The default gateway setting.
• C. The monitor refresh rate.
• D. The printer driver version.

Best answer: B

Explanation: Same-subnet communication can work without a default gateway. Traffic to other networks needs the correct default gateway, so this is the first basic setting to verify.

What this tests: Recognizing the role of the default gateway.

Question 2

Topic: DHCP

A new laptop receives an address in the 169.254.0.0/16 range. Other devices on the same wireless network have normal addresses. What does this most likely indicate?

• A. DNS is translating names correctly.
• B. The laptop successfully reached the DHCP server.
• C. The laptop self-assigned an address because DHCP did not complete.
• D. The switch is using the wrong spanning-tree root.

Best answer: C

Explanation: A 169.254.x.x IPv4 address is commonly an automatic private address assigned when DHCP fails. The next checks should include wireless association, VLAN, DHCP server reachability, and relay configuration where applicable.

What this tests: Interpreting basic IP addressing symptoms.

Question 3

Topic: copper cabling

A device negotiates only 100 Mbps on a link that should support 1 Gbps. Which physical-layer issue is most relevant to check first?

• A. Damaged or incorrect Ethernet cable and connector quality.
• B. Whether the DNS suffix is short.
• C. Whether the user has a browser bookmark.
• D. Whether the router has a static default route.

Best answer: A

Explanation: Speed negotiation issues often start at Layer 1. Cable category, damaged pairs, loose connectors, and patch-panel issues can prevent the expected link speed.

What this tests: Separating physical-layer symptoms from higher-layer issues.

Question 4

Topic: VLAN concept

Why are VLANs used on switches?

• A. To divide a switched network into separate logical broadcast domains.
• B. To replace all IP addresses.
• C. To encrypt every packet automatically.
• D. To make every port part of one unrestricted network.

Best answer: A

Explanation: A VLAN creates a logical Layer 2 segment and broadcast domain. VLANs help separate traffic, support policy boundaries, and organize networks, but they do not replace routing or automatically encrypt traffic.

What this tests: Understanding basic switching segmentation.

Question 5

Topic: DNS

A user can reach a web server by IP address but not by hostname. Which service should be checked first?

• A. DNS.
• B. NTP.
• C. SNMP.
• D. PoE.

Best answer: A

Explanation: If IP connectivity works but hostname access fails, name resolution is a likely issue. DNS maps names to IP addresses.

What this tests: Matching symptoms to common network services.

Question 6

Topic: wireless signal

Users near a conference room report weak Wi-Fi signal and frequent drops. Which factor is most relevant?

• A. RF coverage, interference, access point placement, and client distance.
• B. The file extension of a spreadsheet.
• C. The number of printer trays.
• D. The color of the Ethernet cable jacket.

Best answer: A

Explanation: Wireless reliability depends on coverage, signal strength, interference, channel design, AP placement, and client behavior. Physical distance and obstacles can matter.

What this tests: Identifying common wireless-support causes.

Question 7

Topic: MAC address

Which address is used by Ethernet switching to forward frames on a local network segment?

• A. URL.
• B. MAC address.
• C. DNS domain name.
• D. Public certificate serial number.

Best answer: B

Explanation: Switches learn MAC addresses and forward Ethernet frames based on destination MAC address. IP addresses are used at Layer 3, while DNS names and certificates serve different purposes.

What this tests: Recognizing Layer 2 addressing.

Question 8

Topic: troubleshooting order

A user reports “the internet is down.” What is the best first support action?

• A. Replace the router immediately.
• B. Verify the scope and symptoms, such as whether one user, one subnet, or the whole site is affected.
• C. Delete the user’s profile.
• D. Reconfigure all VLANs without testing.

Best answer: B

Explanation: Entry-level troubleshooting starts by defining the problem and scope. The right next step depends on whether the issue is local to one device, one network area, or a wider outage.

What this tests: Using a support workflow before making changes.

Question 9

Topic: network security

Which practice helps reduce unauthorized access to a network device?

• A. Shared administrator passwords for every technician.
• B. Telnet from any internet address.
• C. Unique accounts, strong authentication, least privilege, and management access restrictions.
• D. Disabling logs so attackers cannot see them.

Best answer: C

Explanation: Network devices should use controlled management access, individual accountability, least privilege, secure protocols, and logging. Shared credentials and unrestricted access increase risk.

What this tests: Applying basic network security hygiene.

Question 10

Topic: ping

A technician uses ping to test connectivity from one host to another. What does a successful ping most directly show?

• A. The destination can never fail.
• B. IP-layer reachability exists for that test path and ICMP is allowed.
• C. DNS is always correct.
• D. Every application port is open.

Best answer: B

Explanation: Ping tests ICMP reachability, not every application or service. A successful ping is useful evidence, but it does not prove DNS, HTTP, authentication, or all ports work.

What this tests: Knowing what a basic diagnostic tool does and does not prove.

Question 11

Topic: PoE

An IP phone does not power on when connected to a switch port. Another non-PoE device works on the same cable. What should be checked?

• A. Whether the switch port supports and provides Power over Ethernet.
• B. Whether the phone has a DNS record.
• C. Whether the VLAN name is capitalized.
• D. Whether the browser cache is empty.

Best answer: A

Explanation: IP phones and access points often depend on Power over Ethernet. If data connectivity exists but the powered device does not turn on, PoE support, budget, port configuration, and cabling should be reviewed.

What this tests: Recognizing common support issues with powered network devices.

Question 12

Topic: escalation

A technician confirms that a branch switch uplink is down and local users are affected. The cable is connected, but the switch interface shows repeated errors. What should the technician do next?

• A. Document the symptoms, basic tests, interface status, and escalate with evidence if the issue is beyond the technician’s access.
• B. Hide the issue until users stop reporting it.
• C. Change random routing settings.
• D. Disable every switchport at the branch.

Best answer: A

Explanation: CCST-level support often tests responsible troubleshooting. Gather useful evidence, document what was checked, avoid random changes, and escalate when the fault requires higher-level access or replacement.

What this tests: Knowing when and how to escalate an infrastructure issue.

Related Cisco routes

• Cisco CCNA 200-301 for the next broader networking route.
• Cisco CCST Cybersecurity 100-160 if your entry-level goal is security operations rather than networking support.
• CompTIA Network+ N10-009 if you want a vendor-neutral networking alternative with live IT Mastery practice.

Official source

For current exam topics, duration, language availability, pricing, registration details, and Cisco policy changes, verify Cisco’s official CCST Networking 100-150 exam page before scheduling.