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 inherent to the complexity of the material itself, while extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented. Germane load, however, is the mental resource devoted to processing and understanding the material, which directly contributes to learning. Research suggests that instructional design should aim to minimize extraneous load, while optimizing germane load, to facilitate effective learning. Overly complex presentations, such as redundant animations or irrelevant text, can increase extraneous load and impede comprehension, even for highly motivated students.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿qué tipo de carga cognitiva es más directamente beneficiosa para el aprendizaje?
A. Carga intrínseca
B. Carga extrínseca
C. Carga pertinente
D. Todos los tipos por igual
✅ 正确答案
Germane 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