About This Domain
Domain 3 — IP Connectivity — accounts for 25% of the CCNA certification exam. This domain evaluates your understanding of interpret the components of a routing table, determine how a router makes a forwarding decision (longest prefix match), configure and verify ipv4 and ipv6 static routing (default, network, host, floating static), and related concepts. Domain 3 covers routing concepts, static routes, dynamic routing with OSPF, and first-hop redundancy protocols. This is the highest-weighted domain. To pass this section you need practical knowledge of how these services and patterns work together in real-world architectures.
What You'll Be Tested On
- Interpret the components of a routing table
- Determine how a router makes a forwarding decision (longest prefix match)
- Configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing (default, network, host, floating static)
- Configure and verify single-area OSPFv2 (neighbor adjacencies, point-to-point, broadcast DR/BDR, router ID)
- Describe the purpose of first hop redundancy protocol (HSRP)
- Configure and verify inter-VLAN routing
Key Cisco Technologies in This Domain
Study Strategy for Domain 3
This domain represents 25% of the total exam, making it a significant scoring area. Balance theoretical study with hands-on practice. Use practice quizzes to identify weak spots and review the topics where you score below 75%.
Exam Tips for Domain 3
Longest prefix match wins when multiple routes match a destination.
Know OSPF neighbor states: Down → Init → 2-Way → ExStart → Exchange → Loading → Full.
Administrative distance: Connected=0, Static=1, OSPF=110, RIP=120.
A floating static route has a higher AD than the primary dynamic route.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions on the CCNA exam come from Domain 3?
Domain 3 (IP Connectivity) makes up 25% of the CCNA exam. The exam has 65 scored questions, so approximately 16 questions will come from this domain.
What services should I focus on for Domain 3?
The key services for this domain include Routing, OSPF, IP Addressing, Inter-VLAN Routing, NAT. Make sure you understand how each service works, its use cases, and how they integrate with one another.
How should I prepare for IP Connectivity questions?
Start by reviewing the key topics listed above, then practice with domain-specific questions. Focus on understanding real-world scenarios rather than memorizing facts.
What's the best order to study the CCNA domains?
Many candidates start with the highest-weighted domains first. For the CCNA exam, the domains in order of weight are: Network Fundamentals (20%), Network Access (20%), IP Connectivity (25%), IP Services (10%), Security Fundamentals (15%), Automation and Programmability (10%).
Practice Domain 3 Questions
Test your knowledge of IP Connectivity with practice questions from our CCNA question bank.
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