MCQ Screening Questions for a Network Engineer
Use these 20 multiple-choice questions to quickly filter network engineer applicants, even if you're not a technical expert.
20 Knockout Questions for Network Engineers
| # | Question | A | B | C | D | Answer | Knockout Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What does IP address stand for? | Internet Pathway | Internet Protocol address — a unique identifier for a device on a network | Internal Port address | None of the above | B | Wrong = Hard Knockout |
| 2 | What is the difference between TCP and UDP? | No difference | TCP is reliable with error checking; UDP is faster with no guarantee | UDP is more secure | TCP is used for video only | B | Wrong = Knockout |
| 3 | What is a subnet mask used for? | Encrypting traffic | Dividing an IP network into smaller sub-networks | Speeding up internet | Managing DNS | B | Wrong = Knockout |
| 4 | What is DNS? | A firewall tool | A system that translates domain names into IP addresses | A routing protocol | An encryption protocol | B | Wrong = Knockout |
| 5 | What is the purpose of a VLAN? | To slow down traffic | To logically segment a network without physical separation | To encrypt traffic | To manage IP addresses | B | Wrong = Knockout |
| 6 | What is BGP used for? | Managing firewalls | Routing data between different autonomous systems on the internet | Encrypting traffic | Load balancing | B | Wrong = Knockout for advanced routing roles |
| 7 | What is the OSI model? | A firewall standard | A 7-layer framework describing how network communication works | A routing protocol | An encryption standard | B | Wrong = Knockout |
| 8 | What does a router do? | Connects devices in a LAN | Forwards data packets between different networks | Encrypts all traffic | Manages user logins | B | Wrong = Knockout |
| 9 | What is NAT (Network Address Translation)? | A type of VPN | Maps private IP addresses to a public IP for internet access | A firewall rule | A routing protocol | B | Wrong = Red flag |
| 10 | What is the purpose of OSPF? | Encrypting traffic | A routing protocol that finds the shortest path within a network | Managing firewalls | Assigning IP addresses | B | Wrong = Knockout for enterprise networking |
| 11 | What is a firewall in networking? | A type of router | A security system that monitors and controls network traffic based on rules | An IP address tool | A DNS server | B | Wrong = Knockout |
| 12 | What is QoS (Quality of Service)? | A security standard | Managing network traffic to prioritize certain types of data | A routing protocol | A DNS tool | B | Wrong = Red flag |
| 13 | What is a load balancer? | A firewall | A device that distributes traffic across multiple servers | A DNS tool | A routing protocol | B | Wrong = Red flag |
| 14 | What is SD-WAN? | A physical network cable | Software-defined networking for managing wide area networks centrally | A firewall product | A routing protocol | B | Wrong = Knockout for SD-WAN roles |
| 15 | What is the difference between LAN and WAN? | No difference | LAN is local (building); WAN spans large geographic areas like the internet | WAN is faster always | LAN uses wireless only | B | Wrong = Knockout |
| 16 | What is DHCP used for? | Encrypting traffic | Automatically assigning IP addresses to devices on a network | Managing routing tables | Monitoring traffic | B | Wrong = Red flag |
| 17 | What is network latency? | Packet loss | The time it takes for data to travel from source to destination | Bandwidth speed | A routing error | B | Wrong = Red flag |
| 18 | What is a packet in networking? | A firewall rule | A small unit of data transmitted over a network | A routing protocol | An IP address block | B | Wrong = Red flag |
| 19 | What is the purpose of SNMP? | Routing traffic | Monitoring and managing network devices remotely | Encrypting traffic | Assigning IP addresses | B | Wrong = Red flag |
| 20 | What is network redundancy? | Having extra cables | Having backup systems so the network continues if one component fails | A routing protocol | A firewall feature | B | Wrong = Knockout |
"As a non-technical recruiter, asking about the difference between TCP and UDP is a surprisingly simple way to gauge a candidate's fundamental knowledge."
- HR Manager, ISP Company