NCTI Progression Field Tech 5-6 Final
Examination — Complete Practice
Question Bank (2026/2027).
Q1: Which network type is defined as a private network connecting devices within a limited
geographic area such as an office or campus?
A. WAN
B. MAN
C. LAN [CORRECT]
D. PAN
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A LAN is a private network confined to a limited geographic area. WAN spans large
geographic distances, MAN covers a metropolitan area, and PAN is a personal area network
for devices close to a single user.
Q2: A MAC address is best described as which of the following?
A. A logical address assigned by a DHCP server
B. A 32-bit address used at the Network Layer
C. A unique 48-bit hardware identifier burned into the NIC that operates at the Data Link
Layer [CORRECT]
D. An address that changes every time a device joins a new network
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: MAC addresses are 48-bit hardware identifiers at OSI Layer 2. IP addresses are
logical and can change; they operate at Layer 3.
Q3: In the TCP/IP model, the Network Access Layer corresponds to which OSI layers?
A. Network and Transport
B. Data Link and Physical [CORRECT]
C. Application and Presentation
,D. Session and Transport
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The TCP/IP Network Access Layer combines the OSI Data Link (Layer 2) and Physical
(Layer 1) layers. Network and Transport map to different TCP/IP layers.
Q4: How many bits are contained in each of the four octets of an IPv4 address?
A. 4
B. 8 [CORRECT]
C. 16
D. 32
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Each IPv4 octet is 8 bits, allowing values from 0–255. The full IPv4 address is 32
bits.
Q5: Which transport-layer protocol is connectionless, has minimal overhead, and is typically
used when the application itself handles error detection and recovery?
A. TCP
B. UDP [CORRECT]
C. ICMP
D. ARP
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: UDP is connectionless and lightweight. TCP is connection-oriented and provides
reliability; ICMP and ARP serve different purposes.
Q6: DNS uses which well-known port number?
A. 21
B. 23
C. 53 [CORRECT]
D. 80
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: DNS traditionally uses port 53 (UDP/TCP). Ports 21, 23, and 80 are used by FTP,
Telnet, and HTTP respectively.
Q7: TFTP is characterized by which of the following?
A. Connection-oriented file transfer over TCP
B. Simple file transfer that runs over UDP [CORRECT]
C. Secure encrypted transfer requiring authentication
D. Multicast streaming protocol
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TFTP is a lightweight file-transfer protocol that uses UDP. It does not provide the
reliability or security features of more complex protocols.
Q8: Which statement correctly distinguishes a MAC address from an IP address?
A. MAC addresses are assigned by a network administrator and can be changed easily
B. IP addresses are burned into the NIC and never change
C. MAC addresses operate at Layer 2 and identify a specific network interface; IP addresses
operate at Layer 3 and identify a host on a network [CORRECT]
D. Both addresses are 48 bits long
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: MAC is Layer 2 hardware addressing; IP is Layer 3 logical addressing. The other
statements reverse or misstate the properties of each.
Q9: A technician needs to verify basic Layer 3 connectivity to a remote host. Which command
is the most appropriate first step?
A. tracert
B. ping [CORRECT]
C. ipconfig /all
D. nslookup
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ping tests reachability, latency, and packet loss at Layer 3. tracert shows the path;
the other commands provide local or name-resolution information.
, Q10: Which of the following is a primary function of the OSI Data Link Layer?
A. Routing packets between networks
B. Providing end-to-end reliable delivery
C. Framing, MAC addressing, and error detection on a local segment [CORRECT]
D. Converting data into electrical or optical signals
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Data Link Layer handles framing, physical addressing (MAC), and local error
detection. Routing is Layer 3; end-to-end reliability is typically Layer 4; signal conversion is
Layer 1.
Q11: In the TCP/IP model, which layer is responsible for logical addressing and routing?
A. Application
B. Transport
C. Internet [CORRECT]
D. Network Access
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Internet Layer corresponds to the OSI Network Layer and handles IP addressing
and routing.
Q12: Which protocol is commonly used for simple, connectionless file transfer in network
device configuration and bootstrap scenarios?
A. FTP
B. TFTP [CORRECT]
C. SFTP
D. SCP
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TFTP is designed for simplicity and runs over UDP, making it suitable for device
configuration and boot environments. The others are more feature-rich or secure variants.
Q13: A device with a burned-in address of 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E is using which type of address?
Examination — Complete Practice
Question Bank (2026/2027).
Q1: Which network type is defined as a private network connecting devices within a limited
geographic area such as an office or campus?
A. WAN
B. MAN
C. LAN [CORRECT]
D. PAN
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A LAN is a private network confined to a limited geographic area. WAN spans large
geographic distances, MAN covers a metropolitan area, and PAN is a personal area network
for devices close to a single user.
Q2: A MAC address is best described as which of the following?
A. A logical address assigned by a DHCP server
B. A 32-bit address used at the Network Layer
C. A unique 48-bit hardware identifier burned into the NIC that operates at the Data Link
Layer [CORRECT]
D. An address that changes every time a device joins a new network
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: MAC addresses are 48-bit hardware identifiers at OSI Layer 2. IP addresses are
logical and can change; they operate at Layer 3.
Q3: In the TCP/IP model, the Network Access Layer corresponds to which OSI layers?
A. Network and Transport
B. Data Link and Physical [CORRECT]
C. Application and Presentation
,D. Session and Transport
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The TCP/IP Network Access Layer combines the OSI Data Link (Layer 2) and Physical
(Layer 1) layers. Network and Transport map to different TCP/IP layers.
Q4: How many bits are contained in each of the four octets of an IPv4 address?
A. 4
B. 8 [CORRECT]
C. 16
D. 32
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Each IPv4 octet is 8 bits, allowing values from 0–255. The full IPv4 address is 32
bits.
Q5: Which transport-layer protocol is connectionless, has minimal overhead, and is typically
used when the application itself handles error detection and recovery?
A. TCP
B. UDP [CORRECT]
C. ICMP
D. ARP
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: UDP is connectionless and lightweight. TCP is connection-oriented and provides
reliability; ICMP and ARP serve different purposes.
Q6: DNS uses which well-known port number?
A. 21
B. 23
C. 53 [CORRECT]
D. 80
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: DNS traditionally uses port 53 (UDP/TCP). Ports 21, 23, and 80 are used by FTP,
Telnet, and HTTP respectively.
Q7: TFTP is characterized by which of the following?
A. Connection-oriented file transfer over TCP
B. Simple file transfer that runs over UDP [CORRECT]
C. Secure encrypted transfer requiring authentication
D. Multicast streaming protocol
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TFTP is a lightweight file-transfer protocol that uses UDP. It does not provide the
reliability or security features of more complex protocols.
Q8: Which statement correctly distinguishes a MAC address from an IP address?
A. MAC addresses are assigned by a network administrator and can be changed easily
B. IP addresses are burned into the NIC and never change
C. MAC addresses operate at Layer 2 and identify a specific network interface; IP addresses
operate at Layer 3 and identify a host on a network [CORRECT]
D. Both addresses are 48 bits long
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: MAC is Layer 2 hardware addressing; IP is Layer 3 logical addressing. The other
statements reverse or misstate the properties of each.
Q9: A technician needs to verify basic Layer 3 connectivity to a remote host. Which command
is the most appropriate first step?
A. tracert
B. ping [CORRECT]
C. ipconfig /all
D. nslookup
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ping tests reachability, latency, and packet loss at Layer 3. tracert shows the path;
the other commands provide local or name-resolution information.
, Q10: Which of the following is a primary function of the OSI Data Link Layer?
A. Routing packets between networks
B. Providing end-to-end reliable delivery
C. Framing, MAC addressing, and error detection on a local segment [CORRECT]
D. Converting data into electrical or optical signals
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Data Link Layer handles framing, physical addressing (MAC), and local error
detection. Routing is Layer 3; end-to-end reliability is typically Layer 4; signal conversion is
Layer 1.
Q11: In the TCP/IP model, which layer is responsible for logical addressing and routing?
A. Application
B. Transport
C. Internet [CORRECT]
D. Network Access
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Internet Layer corresponds to the OSI Network Layer and handles IP addressing
and routing.
Q12: Which protocol is commonly used for simple, connectionless file transfer in network
device configuration and bootstrap scenarios?
A. FTP
B. TFTP [CORRECT]
C. SFTP
D. SCP
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TFTP is designed for simplicity and runs over UDP, making it suitable for device
configuration and boot environments. The others are more feature-rich or secure variants.
Q13: A device with a burned-in address of 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E is using which type of address?
