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 to the learner. Germane load, on the other hand, is the effort dedicated to processing and understanding the material, which is beneficial for learning. Research suggests that instructional design should aim to reduce extraneous load and optimize germane load, as the total cognitive capacity is limited. Overloading working memory can hinder the acquisition of new knowledge, especially for novice learners who lack prior schemas to organize information efficiently.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es el propósito principal del diseño instruccional en relación con la carga cognitiva?
A. A. Eliminar todos los tipos de carga cognitiva para maximizar la eficiencia del aprendizaje.
B. B. Para aumentar la carga intrínseca y desafiar a los estudiantes, promoviendo una comprensión más profunda.
C. C. Minimizar la carga extraña mientras se facilita la carga pertinente dentro de una capacidad limitada.
D. D. Centrarse únicamente en reducir la carga intrínseca para los aprendices novatos.
✅ 正确答案
C. To minimize extraneous load while facilitating germane load within limited capacity.
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