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 most effective when instructional materials are designed to reduce extraneous cognitive load, thereby freeing resources for the essential processing of new information. However, recent studies have challenged the assumption that simplifying visual aids always benefits learners. For instance, research by Mayer and Moreno (2010) demonstrated that adding redundant on-screen text to narrated animations can increase extraneous load, but removing it entirely may leave learners without sufficient scaffolding for complex topics. This suggests that the optimal level of instructional support depends on the learner's prior knowledge and the complexity of the subject matter, indicating that a one-size-fits-all approach to reducing cognitive load is insufficient.
❓ ¿Cuál es la conclusión principal que extrae el autor respecto a la teoría de la carga cognitiva?
A. A) Simplificar los materiales didácticos siempre mejora los resultados de aprendizaje.
B. B) La eficacia de reducir la carga cognitiva varía según las características del aprendiz y la complejidad de la tarea.
C. C) Añadir texto redundante a las animaciones siempre es perjudicial para el aprendizaje.
D. D) La teoría de la carga cognitiva ha sido completamente refutada por investigaciones recientes.
✅ 正确答案
B) The effectiveness of reducing cognitive load varies with learner characteristics and task complexity.
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