The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, it is often divided into three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Intrinsic load is associated with the inherent difficulty of the material itself, which cannot be altered by instructional design. Extraneous load, on the other hand, is generated by the way information is presented to learners, and can be minimized through effective teaching methods. Germane load, however, is the mental resource dedicated to processing and understanding the material, thereby facilitating learning. Research suggests that when extraneous load is high, learners have fewer cognitive resources available for germane processing, which can impede comprehension. Therefore, instructional designers aim to reduce extraneous load to optimize learning outcomes.
❓ According to the passage, which type of cognitive load is most directly related to the inherent difficulty of the subject matter?
A. Extraneous load
B. Germane load
C. Intrinsic load
D. Total cognitive load
✅ 正确答案
Intrinsic load
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first