The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational contexts, cognitive load theory suggests that instructional design should minimize extraneous cognitive load to facilitate learning. Extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented to learners, such as through poorly designed diagrams or unnecessary text. In contrast, intrinsic load is inherent to the complexity of the material itself, while germane load is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material. Research has shown that when extraneous load is reduced, learners can allocate more cognitive resources to germane processes, leading to better retention and transfer of knowledge. However, reducing intrinsic load may require simplifying the subject matter, which is not always feasible or desirable.
❓ According to the passage, which type of cognitive load is most directly influenced by instructional design?
A. Intrinsic load
B. Extraneous load
C. Germane load
D. Working memory load
✅ 正确答案
Extraneous 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