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.
❓ 인지부하 이론에 관해 저자가 도출한 주요 결론은 무엇인가?
A. A) 교육 자료를 단순화하는 것은 항상 학습 성과를 향상시킨다.
B. B) 인지 부하를 줄이는 효과는 학습자 특성과 과제 복잡성에 따라 달라진다.
C. C) 애니메이션에 중복된 텍스트를 추가하는 것은 항상 학습에 해롭다.
D. D) 인지 부하 이론은 최근 연구에 의해 완전히 반증되었다.
✅ 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