The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, cognitive load theory suggests that learning is hindered when the intrinsic load of a task, combined with the extraneous load imposed by instructional design, exceeds the learner's available working memory capacity. Effective instructional materials should therefore minimize extraneous load, allowing learners to allocate more cognitive resources to the essential processing of information. However, recent studies have challenged the universality of this theory, proposing that the optimal level of cognitive load may vary depending on individual differences such as prior knowledge and learning style. For instance, novice learners often benefit from highly structured guidance, whereas experts may perform better with less scaffolding, as redundant information can increase their cognitive burden without enhancing understanding.
❓ According to the passage, what is a key factor that can influence the effectiveness of cognitive load in learning?
A. The color of the instructional materials
B. The learner's prior knowledge and learning style
C. The speed at which information is presented
D. The number of examples provided in the text
✅ 正确答案
The learner's prior knowledge and learning style
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