Exam-style question
Try this first
A school network contains several devices that communicate internally. The school also needs communication with devices on the public internet. Explain why the network may use both private and public IP addresses.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Private IP addresses can be used for the devices communicating within the school’s private network because they are intended for internal use and are non-routable across the public internet.
- A public IP address is needed for communication that must be routed across the public internet because public IP addresses are routable.
- Therefore, the two types serve different purposes: private addressing supports internal network communication, while public addressing supports internet routing.
Explanation
Why this works
A strong answer links each address type to its routing property and its appropriate scope. It should not treat private addresses as routable across the public internet.
Common mistake
No common mistake is linked to this question yet.