Cisco 100-150 CCST Networking Practice Exam
Cover every objective area on Cisco’s CCST Networking exam — standards and concepts, addressing and subnetting, endpoints and media, infrastructure, diagnosing problems, and security — with objective-mapped questions, immediate feedback in Learn mode, and full timed simulation in Exam mode.
Start 24-hour free trial →100-150 exam at a glance
- Vendor
- Cisco
- Exam code
- 100-150
- Certification
- Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking
- Level
- Entry-level (foundational)
- Family
- One of three CCST exams — IT Support (100-140), Networking (100-150), Cybersecurity (100-160)
- Duration
- 50 minutes
- Scoring
- Reported as pass/fail; Cisco does not publish a public numeric cut score; question count varies by exam form
- Domains
- Six objective areas (see below); Cisco does not publish fixed percentage weights for CCST
- Prerequisites
- None. Suitable for students, career-changers, and early-career IT staff
- Cost (USD)
- Around $125 (confirm current pricing and regional variation with Cisco/Certiport)
- Delivery
- Pearson VUE or Certiport; test center or online proctored
- Validity
- Earned on/after July 15, 2025: valid 5 years. Earned before that date: lifetime. Confirm with Cisco
Source: Cisco — Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking (100-150) exam page. Verify current details with Cisco before scheduling.
About the Cisco CCST Networking (100-150) certification
The 100-150 exam earns the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking certification — an entry-level credential that validates how networks operate: the devices, media, and protocols that enable communication, plus basic troubleshooting and help-desk best practices. It’s aimed at people supporting and maintaining small networks and starting a networking career. For how certification exams work generally, see the certification study guides in our Learning Hub.
CCST Networking is one of three CCST exams — IT Support (100-140), Networking (100-150), and Cybersecurity (100-160) — and it’s the most direct on-ramp to Cisco’s associate-level CCNA (200-301). There are no prerequisites, and Cisco pitches it at students, career-changers, and early-career IT staff. It effectively replaces older foundational steps (such as the retired CCENT) as the modern first rung on the Cisco networking ladder.
Every PowerKram practice question maps to one of the exam’s objective areas and links to Cisco’s own exam page, so a weak spot becomes a specific study step rather than a guess.
100-150 exam domains
Cisco organizes the CCST Networking exam into six objective areas. Cisco publishes the objectives but not a fixed percentage weight for each, so rather than invent numbers we list the areas and describe what each covers. Addressing and subnetting tends to be the area candidates find most demanding — build breadth across all six, then deepen where you’re weakest. Confirm the current objectives on Cisco’s exam page.
Network building blocks, the OSI and TCP/IP models, LAN/WAN/MAN/CAN/PAN/WLAN distinctions, cloud versus on-premises services, common protocols, and performance terms such as bandwidth and throughput.
Public and private addressing, IPv4 dotted-decimal addresses, subnet masks, CIDR notation, gateways, IPv6 addresses and prefixes, and the difference between MAC and IP addressing.
Endpoint devices, network interfaces, common LAN cables and connectors, wired networks, Wi-Fi, cellular networking, interference sources, and client connectivity checks across major operating systems.
Routers, switches, wireless access points, and firewalls; ports and Cisco device status lights; reading network diagrams and cabling instructions; and basic routing and switching concepts.
Structured troubleshooting methodologies, help-desk best practices, and the diagnostic tools and commands used to isolate and resolve common network issues.
Basic network security principles — common threats, secure practices, and foundational protections a support technician should understand.
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking (100-150) exam objectives. Cisco does not publish a fixed percentage for each area, so none is shown here. Verify the current objectives before scheduling.
Who the 100-150 exam is for
CCST Networking is built for people starting a networking career:
- Students and career-changers entering IT with a recognized networking-focused first credential.
- Network support and help-desk hopefuls who want to prove foundational networking skills.
- Early-career technicians supporting small office / home office (SOHO) and small business networks.
- Aspiring CCNA candidates who want an approachable first step before associate-level depth.
Its CCST siblings let you branch by interest: CCST IT Support (100-140) leans toward help-desk and desktop troubleshooting and CCST Cybersecurity (100-160) toward security basics. When you’re ready to go deeper into networking, CCNA (200-301) is the natural associate-level next step. For where networking skills lead, see the networking and infrastructure career paths in our Career Hub.
What this 100-150 practice exam delivers
Learn mode
Get the correct answer, the explanation, and a direct link to Cisco’s exam material each question maps to — immediately after each question. Ideal for cementing addressing, subnetting, and protocol concepts.
Exam mode
Timed, full-length simulation across the six objective areas at the real 50-minute pace — so test day feels familiar.
Source-linked explanations
Every answer links to Cisco’s own CCST Networking exam material, so you can verify addressing, infrastructure, and troubleshooting concepts against the source.
Score by objective area
Results break down across the six areas so you can see whether it’s standards, addressing, endpoints, infrastructure, diagnosing, or security that needs more work.
Sample 100-150 practice questions
Ten free questions across the CCST Networking objective areas, with full explanations and source links to Cisco’s exam material. The complete bank is available with the 24-hour trial.
Which model organizes network communication into seven layers, from physical up to application?
- The RAID model
- The OSI model
- The RGB model
- The SMART model
Show answer & explanation
Correct: B — the OSI model. The Open Systems Interconnection model describes networking in seven layers (physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation, application), giving technicians a shared framework for discussing and troubleshooting communication.
Why not the others: RAID (A) is a storage-redundancy scheme, RGB (C) is a color model, and SMART (D) is a disk self-monitoring standard — none describe network layers.
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: standards & concepts → Further reading: PowerKram — CCNA (200-301) →In CIDR notation, what does the /24 in 192.168.1.0/24 indicate?
- The first 24 bits are the network portion of the address
- There are 24 usable hosts
- The address expires after 24 hours
- The cable must be 24 metres long
Show answer & explanation
Correct: A. The /24 prefix length means the first 24 bits identify the network (equivalent to a 255.255.255.0 mask), leaving the remaining 8 bits for host addresses within that subnet.
Why not the others: it is not a host count (B), has nothing to do with time (C), and nothing to do with cable length (D).
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: addressing & subnet → Further reading: PowerKram — CCNA (200-301) →Which of the following is a private IPv4 address range?
- 8.8.8.0/24
- 1.1.1.0/24
- 192.168.0.0/16
- 203.0.113.0/24
Show answer & explanation
Correct: C — 192.168.0.0/16. This is one of the RFC 1918 private ranges (along with 10.0.0.0/8 and 172.16.0.0/12), reserved for internal networks and not routable on the public internet.
Why not the others: 8.8.8.0 (A) and 1.1.1.0 (B) are public addresses used by well-known public resolvers, and 203.0.113.0 (D) is a documentation range, not a private one.
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: public vs private addressing →Which cable type is most commonly used for wired Ethernet connections to a desktop PC?
- An HDMI cable
- A twisted-pair (RJ-45) Ethernet cable
- A coaxial TV aerial cable
- A USB-A to USB-A cable
Show answer & explanation
Correct: B. Wired Ethernet to endpoints typically uses twisted-pair copper cabling terminated with RJ-45 connectors (Cat5e, Cat6, and so on), which the CCST covers under common LAN cables and connectors.
Why not the others: HDMI (A) carries audio/video, coaxial aerial (C) is for TV signals, and a USB-A to USB-A cable (D) is not used for standard Ethernet.
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: endpoints & media types → Further reading: PowerKram — CCST IT Support (100-140) →Which device forwards traffic between different IP networks based on destination IP address?
- A router
- An unmanaged power strip
- A monitor
- A label printer
Show answer & explanation
Correct: A — a router. Routers operate at the network layer and forward packets between different IP networks using routing decisions based on destination IP addresses, unlike switches which forward within a LAN.
Why not the others: a power strip (B), a monitor (C), and a label printer (D) play no role in routing IP traffic.
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: infrastructure →On a Cisco switch, what does a steady green port status light generally indicate?
- The port has failed permanently
- The port is administratively disabled
- A link is established and the port is operational
- The device needs new firmware
Show answer & explanation
Correct: C. A steady green link light generally means a valid link is established and the port is up. Interpreting Cisco device status lights is an explicit CCST infrastructure skill.
Why not the others: a failed (A) or administratively disabled (B) port would not show a healthy steady-green link, and status lights do not signal a firmware requirement (D).
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: device status lights →Which command shows the path packets take across the network, hop by hop, to a destination?
- format
- shutdown
- copy
- traceroute (or tracert)
Show answer & explanation
Correct: D — traceroute/tracert. traceroute lists each router hop between source and destination with round-trip times, helping isolate where along the path a connectivity problem occurs.
Why not the others: format (A) prepares storage, shutdown (B) disables an interface or device, and copy (C) moves files/configs — none trace a network path.
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: diagnosing problems → Further reading: PowerKram — CCST IT Support (100-140) →What does “throughput” describe on a network link?
- The physical length of the cable
- The number of devices in the building
- The actual rate of successful data transfer achieved over the link
- The colour of the status LED
Show answer & explanation
Correct: C. Throughput is the real-world rate of successful data delivery over a link, which can be lower than the nominal bandwidth because of overhead, congestion, or errors — a key performance term in the CCST concepts area.
Why not the others: it isn’t cable length (A), a device count (B), or an LED colour (D).
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: performance terms →Which practice best improves the security of a small network’s Wi-Fi?
- Leaving it open with no password
- Using strong WPA2/WPA3 encryption and a strong passphrase
- Broadcasting the admin password in the network name
- Disabling all encryption to improve speed
Show answer & explanation
Correct: B. Enabling modern encryption (WPA2 or WPA3) with a strong passphrase is a foundational wireless-security control the CCST expects a technician to apply.
Why not the others: leaving it open (A), exposing the admin password (C), or disabling encryption (D) all seriously weaken security.
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: security → Further reading: PowerKram — CCST Cybersecurity (100-160) →A wireless client shows a weak, fluctuating signal in one room. Which is a likely contributing factor?
- The monitor’s refresh rate
- The keyboard layout
- The font size on screen
- Distance from the access point and interference from walls or other devices
Show answer & explanation
Correct: D. Wi-Fi signal quality drops with distance from the access point and with interference from walls, appliances, and competing signals — all covered under interference sources and client connectivity in the endpoints/media area.
Why not the others: monitor refresh rate (A), keyboard layout (B), and on-screen font size (C) have no bearing on wireless signal strength.
Source: Cisco — CCST Networking: wireless & interference →Keep going: Learning & Career resources
CCST Networking is a launchpad — into the other CCST tracks, toward CCNA, and into frontline networking roles. Two PowerKram hubs back this exam.
Deep dive: 100-150 scope, the CCST family, and study path
Where 100-150 sits
CCST Networking is an entry point with no prerequisites — the modern first rung on the Cisco networking ladder, replacing older foundational steps like the retired CCENT. It sits alongside CCST IT Support and CCST Cybersecurity, and directly below associate-level CCNA. Pick Networking if network fundamentals and support is your target. See CCNA (200-301) →
The six objective areas
Standards and concepts, addressing and subnet, endpoints and media types, infrastructure, diagnosing problems, and security. Cisco doesn’t publish per-area percentages, so build breadth across all six — addressing and subnetting is the area most beginners find hardest, so give it early, repeated attention. See CCST IT Support (100-140) →
Realistic study path
Most candidates prepare in a few weeks. Use the free Cisco Networking Academy content, get hands-on with a simulator such as Packet Tracer, and practice IP addressing and subnetting until it’s second nature. Finish with objective-mapped practice questions and one timed run at the 50-minute pace. Note the validity change: CCST certifications earned on or after July 15, 2025 are valid for five years (earlier ones remain lifetime) — confirm current details on Cisco’s page. See CCST Cybersecurity (100-160) →
Frequently asked questions
Is the 100-150 exam entry-level?
How long is the exam and how is it scored?
How long is CCST Networking valid?
What comes after CCST Networking?
Does Cisco publish domain weights for 100-150?
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Full access to the question bank, both study modes, source-linked explanations, and score-by-objective-area across all six CCST Networking domains. No credit card required.
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