The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional designers often aim to manage cognitive load to optimize learning. According to Sweller's cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the intrinsic load (complexity of the material) and extraneous load (how the material is presented) exceed the learner's capacity. However, recent studies suggest that a moderate level of germane load, which involves the mental resources dedicated to processing and understanding the material, can enhance deep learning. This has led to a shift from purely reducing cognitive load to strategically balancing it, acknowledging that some difficulty is beneficial for developing robust knowledge structures.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es el cambio principal en el diseño instruccional con respecto a la carga cognitiva?
A. A. Eliminar toda carga cognitiva para evitar sobrecargar a los estudiantes.
B. B. Reducir la carga intrínseca independientemente de la complejidad del contenido
C. C. Equilibrar estratégicamente la carga para incluir dificultad beneficiosa
D. D. Aumentar la carga extrínseca para desafiar a los aprendices
✅ 正确答案
C. Strategically balancing load to include beneficial difficulty
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