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 designs align with human cognitive architecture. Intrinsic load is the inherent difficulty of the material itself, while extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented. Germane load, on the other hand, is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material, which directly contributes to learning. Research has shown that reducing extraneous load, for instance by simplifying diagrams or eliminating redundant text, can free up mental resources for germane load, thereby enhancing comprehension. However, if the intrinsic complexity of the topic is high, even well-designed instruction may not fully compensate for the learner's limited working memory capacity.
❓ Theo đoạn văn, điều nào sau đây có khả năng cải thiện việc học nhất?
A. A. Tăng lượng tải ngoại lai trong tài liệu giảng dạy
B. B. Giảm tải trọng liên quan (germane load) để tránh quá tải bộ nhớ làm việc
C. C. Giảm tải trọng không liên quan để dành nhiều nguồn lực hơn cho tải trọng hữu ích
D. D. Thiết kế bài giảng bỏ qua giới hạn bộ nhớ làm việc của người học
✅ 正确答案
C. Decreasing extraneous load to allow more resources for germane 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