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 subject matter 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 reduced through better instructional materials. Germane load is the effort devoted to processing and constructing schemas, which is beneficial for learning. Research suggests that effective teaching strategies aim to minimize extraneous load while optimizing germane load, especially when intrinsic load is high.
❓ Согласно тексту, какой тип когнитивной нагрузки наиболее непосредственно зависит от способа представления информации?
A. Внутренняя когнитивная нагрузка
B. Внешняя нагрузка
C. Когерентная нагрузка
D. Рабочая нагрузка на память
✅ 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