Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking (100‑150) Practice Exams
About the Cisco CCST Networking 100-150 exam
Exam at a glance
Entry tier. Cisco's most accessible networking credential. 30-40 questions, 50 min, variable cut score, $125 USD. Lifetime validity — CCST certs do not expire.
Exam domains
Cisco publishes the CCST domains without percentage weightings.
- Standards and Concepts
- Addressing and Subnet Formats
- Endpoints and Media Types
- Infrastructure
- Diagnosing Problems
- Security
Who it's for
Released in 2023, CCST Networking is Cisco's most accessible networking credential — designed for students, career changers, and IT generalists building toward CCNA. The certification is a strong fit for high-school students enrolled in Cisco Networking Academy, community college students studying IT, helpdesk staff exploring networking as a specialty, and self-taught learners who want a recognized credential before tackling CCNA.
Prerequisites
None. Cisco does not require prior certifications or formal training, although approximately 150 hours of instruction or self-study is recommended. The exam is designed to be approachable for first-time test takers.
Why take this certification
- Lifetime credential. Unlike CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE (which require recertification every three years), CCST certifications never expire. Pass once, keep it forever.
- The pre-CCNA stepping stone. CCST Networking covers the same conceptual territory as CCNA at an introductory depth, making it the ideal confidence-builder and resume credential while you prepare for CCNA 200-301.
- Recognized Cisco brand. Even at the entry tier, the Cisco name carries weight with employers — particularly for helpdesk, NOC, and field-tech roles where networking fundamentals are a daily requirement.
- No prerequisites, accessible price. At $125 with no formal prereqs and a 50-minute format, CCST Networking is one of the lowest-friction networking credentials available — ideal for budget-conscious learners and students.
What you'll learn in the CCST Networking 100-150 exam
CCST Networking validates that you understand the core building blocks of computer networks at a conceptual level. The exam is recognition-and-recall driven — most questions ask you to identify a protocol, label a network diagram, pick the correct cable type, or recognize a security best practice. There is no router/switch configuration, no CLI syntax, and no programmability content (those arrive in CCNA).
Core topics you'll be tested on
- Standards and concepts: OSI seven-layer model, TCP/IP four-layer model, encapsulation, connection-oriented vs connectionless protocols, common protocol-to-layer mappings.
- IP addressing: IPv4 fundamentals (classes, public vs private, RFC 1918), IPv6 basics (address format, common prefixes), intro-level subnetting (CIDR notation, recognizing valid host ranges), DHCP and DNS roles.
- Network devices: Routers, switches, wireless access points, firewalls, modems — what each does and where it sits in a typical SOHO or small-business network.
- Ethernet and media types: Copper (Cat 5e/6/6a/7) vs fiber (single-mode vs multi-mode), straight-through vs crossover cables, common connector types (RJ45, LC, SC), MAC addressing.
- Common protocols and ports: HTTP/HTTPS (80/443), SSH (22), Telnet (23), FTP (20/21), SMTP (25), DNS (53), DHCP (67/68), SNMP (161), and how to recognize them on a wire.
- Wireless basics: SSID, BSSID, 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz vs 6 GHz, common 802.11 standards (a/b/g/n/ac/ax), WPA2 vs WPA3.
- Network diagrams: Reading topology diagrams, identifying common symbols, recognizing star/bus/mesh topologies.
- Basic troubleshooting:
ping,traceroute/tracert,ipconfig/ifconfig,nslookup, interpreting their output, the divide-and-conquer troubleshooting method. - Security fundamentals: Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, firewall concepts (allow/deny at a conceptual level), secure protocols (HTTPS over HTTP, SSH over Telnet), physical security basics.
What you will NOT be tested on
CCST Networking deliberately stops short of CCNA depth. You will not need to configure routers or switches from the CLI, design routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), troubleshoot Spanning Tree Protocol, or write Python automation scripts. Those topics are reserved for CCNA 200-301 and beyond.
How the practice exams help
Each free question and every premium exam mirrors the recognition-style format Cisco uses on the real exam — clear stems, four plausible options, one or two correct, with the occasional drag-and-drop or matching item. Detailed explanations cover not just why the right answer is right but why the distractors are wrong, so you build the conceptual mental model that makes the CCNA transition easier.
How to prepare for the CCST Networking 100-150 exam
A successful CCST Networking preparation strategy combines free Cisco training, hands-on lab practice, and exam simulation. Recommended approach:
- Enroll in Cisco Networking Academy (2-3 weeks). Cisco offers a free CCST Networking course through Networking Academy that aligns directly with the 100-150 exam blueprint. The course is self-paced, includes interactive activities, and is the single best preparation resource — it's authored by the same team that writes the exam.
- Hands-on labs with Packet Tracer (1-2 weeks). Download Cisco Packet Tracer (free with a NetAcad account) and build small topologies — a home network with a router, switch, and a few PCs; a SOHO network with a wireless AP; a basic two-router setup. You don't need to configure routing protocols, but seeing IP addressing and basic device behavior in action makes the concepts stick.
- Reference text (1 week). Read the official Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking Official Cert Guide from Cisco Press. It mirrors the exam blueprint and includes end-of-chapter review questions. A condensed alternative is Wendell Odom's CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Volume 1 chapters 1-5, which cover the same foundational material at slightly greater depth.
- Practice exams (1-2 weeks). Take timed practice tests to identify weak areas. Detailed explanations on every answer option help you learn the reasoning, not just memorize answers. Aim for consistent 85%+ scores before scheduling your exam — the variable cut score makes a comfortable margin important.
Recommended timeline
4-8 weeks of focused study (5-10 hours per week) for complete beginners. Candidates with prior IT experience (helpdesk, CompTIA A+/Network+) can typically prepare in 2-4 weeks.
Official resources
Start with the official Cisco CCST Networking exam topics and the free Networking Academy CCST course. Pair with Cisco Packet Tracer for hands-on practice. Exams are delivered by Certiport at testing centers or via online proctoring.