The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, cognitive load theory suggests that instructional designs should minimize extraneous cognitive load to facilitate learning. Extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented to learners, such as confusing layouts or irrelevant details, which do not contribute to schema acquisition. In contrast, intrinsic load is inherent to the complexity of the material itself, and germane load is devoted to processing and constructing schemas. Research indicates that when extraneous load is high, learners have fewer resources available for germane processing, thereby hindering deep understanding. Therefore, effective instructional materials often employ strategies like worked examples or split-attention formats to reduce unnecessary mental effort and promote better learning outcomes.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es el efecto principal de una alta carga cognitiva extrínseca en el aprendizaje?
A. Aumenta la complejidad intrínseca del tema en cuestión.
B. Reduce los recursos mentales disponibles para el procesamiento profundo y la comprensión.
C. Hace que el material sea más atractivo y memorable para los estudiantes.
D. Elimina la necesidad de carga pertinente en la construcción de esquemas.
✅ 正确答案
It reduces the mental resources available for deep processing and understanding.
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