CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Practice Test

The CompTIA Network+ Certification is a globally recognized credential for IT professionals that validates essential networking skills. It covers topics such as network design, implementation, troubleshooting, security, and the management of wired and wireless networks. This certification ensures candidates have a strong foundation in networking concepts, protocols, and tools required for a successful IT career.

Who Can Take It?

The CompTIA Network+ certification is ideal for:

• IT professionals looking to enhance their networking knowledge and skills.
• Network administrators, technicians, and help desk staff aiming to advance their careers.
• Aspiring IT specialists preparing for roles involving network management and troubleshooting.
• Individuals pursuing advanced certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CCNA.

This practice test includes 25 multiple-choice questions designed to simulate real exam scenarios and evaluate your understanding of core networking concepts. Topics include IP addressing, network protocols, routing, troubleshooting tools, network security, and more. Each question includes a detailed explanation to strengthen your learning and improve your exam readiness.

Let’s get started and take a step closer to earning your CompTIA Network+ certification!

1. Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for routing packets between networks?

A) Data Link

B) Network

C) Transport

D) Application

Answer:

B) Network

Explanation:

The Network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model is responsible for routing packets between different networks.

2. Which of the following is a characteristic of a switch?

A) Broadcasts data to all ports

B) Learns MAC addresses

C) Operates at Layer 3

D) Connects different IP subnets

Answer:

B) Learns MAC addresses

Explanation:

A switch learns the MAC addresses of connected devices and forwards frames only to the specific port associated with the destination MAC address.

3. What is the primary function of DNS?

A) Assign IP addresses

B) Encrypt data transmissions

C) Resolve domain names to IP addresses

D) Authenticate network users

Answer:

C) Resolve domain names to IP addresses

Explanation:

DNS (Domain Name System) resolves human-readable domain names to IP addresses, allowing users to access websites using URLs.

4. Which wireless encryption standard is currently considered the most secure?

A) WEP

B) WPA

C) WPA2

D) WPA3

Answer:

D) WPA3

Explanation:

WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) is the latest and most secure wireless encryption standard.

5. What type of cable is used for a 10GBase-T network?

A) Cat5e

B) Cat6

C) Cat6a

D) Cat7

Answer:

C) Cat6a

Explanation:

Cat6a (Category 6a) cable is used for 10GBase-T networks, supporting data rates up to 10 Gbps.

6. What protocol is used to send email messages from a mail client to a mail server?

A) IMAP

B) POP3

C) SMTP

D) HTTPS

Answer:

C) SMTP

Explanation:

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used to send emails from a client to a server or between servers.

7. Which of the following is a valid IPv6 address?

A) 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

B) 256.100.50.25

C) 192.168.1.256

D) 172.300.0.1

Answer:

A) 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

Explanation:

Option A represents a valid IPv6 address. IPv6 addresses are represented as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits.

8. Which device is used to create VLANs in a network?

A) Hub

B) Router

C) Switch

D) Access Point

Answer:

C) Switch

Explanation:

Switches are used to create VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) to segment and isolate traffic within a network.

9. What is the purpose of NAT (Network Address Translation)?

A) Assigning IP addresses to hosts

B) Translating private IP addresses to public IP addresses

C) Encrypting data transmissions

D) Resolving domain names to IP addresses

Answer:

B) Translating private IP addresses to public IP addresses

Explanation:

NAT translates private IP addresses used within a local network to a public IP address for communication over the internet.

10. Which port number is associated with HTTPS?

A) 80

B) 443

C) 21

D) 25

Answer:

B) 443

Explanation:

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) uses port number 443.

11. Which network topology is the most fault-tolerant?

A) Bus

B) Star

C) Ring

D) Mesh

Answer:

D) Mesh

Explanation:

In a mesh topology, each device is connected to every other device, providing multiple paths for data transmission, making it highly fault-tolerant.

12. Which command is used to display the IP configuration of a Windows computer?

A) ipconfig

B) ifconfig

C) netstat

D) nslookup

Answer:

A) ipconfig

Explanation:

The "ipconfig" command is used in Windows to display the IP configuration of the device.

13. What is the function of a VPN (Virtual Private Network)?

A) Increase internet speed

B) Provide a secure connection over the internet

C) Connect to multiple networks simultaneously

D) Bypass DNS resolution

Answer:

B) Provide a secure connection over the internet

Explanation:

VPNs are used to create a secure and encrypted connection over the internet, often to connect remote users to a private network.

14. Q: Which of the following is a benefit of using subnets?

A) Increased bandwidth

B) Reduced network congestion

C) Improved security

D) Enhanced DNS resolution

Answer:

C) Improved security

Explanation:

Subnetting can help in isolating segments of the network, improving security by restricting access to certain resources.

15. In which type of attack does the attacker intercept communication between two parties without their knowledge?

A) Phishing

B) DDoS

C) Man-in-the-middle

D) Brute force

Answer:

C) Man-in-the-middle

Explanation:

In a man-in-the-middle attack, the attacker intercepts and potentially alters the communication between two parties without their knowledge.

16. Which protocol is responsible for logical addressing and routing?

A) ARP

B) ICMP

C) IP

D) TCP

Answer:

C) IP

Explanation:

IP (Internet Protocol) is responsible for logical addressing and routing of packets across networks.

17. What does the acronym MTU stand for, and what does it represent?

A) Maximum Transmission Unit; largest size packet that can be transmitted

B) Minimum Transmission Unit; smallest size packet that can be transmitted

C) Maximum Transfer Unit; maximum data transfer rate

D) Minimum Transfer Unit; minimum data transfer rate

Answer:

A) Maximum Transmission Unit; largest size packet that can be transmitted

Explanation:

MTU stands for Maximum Transmission Unit and represents the largest size packet or frame that can be sent in a network.

18. In a network, what is the role of a firewall?

A) Assign IP addresses to devices

B) Manage network traffic and bandwidth

C) Protect a network by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic

D) Store data and files for network users

Answer:

C) Protect a network by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic

Explanation:

A firewall protects a network by controlling and managing incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

19. Which of the following wireless standards operates at 5 GHz frequency?

A) 802.11b

B) 802.11g

C) 802.11n

D) 802.11ac

Answer:

D) 802.11ac

Explanation:

802.11ac is a wireless standard that operates at 5 GHz frequency and offers high data rates.

20. What type of address is FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF in a network?

A) Unicast

B) Multicast

C) Broadcast

D) Anycast

Answer:

C) Broadcast

Explanation:

FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF is a MAC broadcast address used to send data to all devices in a network segment.

21. Which type of cable has a longer transmission distance, single-mode fiber, or multimode fiber?

A) Single-mode fiber

B) Multimode fiber

C) Both have the same transmission distance

D) It depends on the network configuration

Answer:

A) Single-mode fiber

Explanation:

Single-mode fiber cables have a longer transmission distance compared to multimode fiber cables due to a smaller core and lower modal dispersion.

22. What is the purpose of using a subnet mask in IP addressing?

A) To identify the network portion of an IP address

B) To encrypt IP addresses

C) To translate IP addresses to MAC addresses

D) To assign IP addresses to devices

Answer:

A) To identify the network portion of an IP address

Explanation:

A subnet mask is used in IP addressing to identify the network portion and the host portion of an IP address.

23. Which command is used to test network connectivity by sending echo requests?

A) tracert

B) netstat

C) ping

D) arp

Answer:

C) ping

Explanation:

The "ping" command is used to test network connectivity by sending echo requests to a specified network host.

24. What is the default subnet mask for a Class A IP address?

A) 255.0.0.0

B) 255.255.0.0

C) 255.255.255.0

D) 255.255.255.255

Answer:

A) 255.0.0.0

Explanation:

The default subnet mask for a Class A IP address is 255.0.0.0.

25. Which of the following topologies is most likely to remain functional if one connection fails?

A) Bus

B) Ring

C) Star

D) Mesh

Answer:

D) Mesh

Explanation:

In a mesh topology, devices are interconnected, so the failure of one connection doesn’t affect the overall network, making it highly fault-tolerant.