What is the correct sequence of Google Ads Auction Steps?

• A. Cast a wide net to find relevant ads; Pare down to eligible ads; Show only ads that meet the Ad Rank threshold
• B. Pare down to eligible ads; Cast a wide net; Show all ads
• C. Show only ads that meet Ad Rank; Cast net; Pare down
• D. Cast a net; Compare prices; Publish ads

Answer: (A)

Google Ads auction steps start by casting a broad net of ads that could be relevant to the user's query. Next, those candidates are pared down to ads that are actually eligible, meaning they meet policy and targeting requirements. Among the eligible ads, Ad Rank is calculated using the bid combined with quality signals such as expected click-through rate, ad relevance, and landing page experience, along with the expected impact of ad extensions. Only ads with an Ad Rank above the threshold are shown, and they’re ordered by Ad Rank. This sequence—broadly identifying relevant ads, filtering to eligible, then showing only those that meet the Ad Rank threshold—best matches the correct answer.