The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional design aims to manage this load to optimize learning. According to cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the intrinsic complexity of the material is high and is further exacerbated by poor instructional design that introduces extraneous load. For instance, presenting information in a disjointed manner or requiring learners to integrate multiple sources of unrelated information can overload working memory, leaving insufficient capacity for schema construction. Effective strategies, such as segmenting complex tasks and using worked examples, can reduce extraneous load and free up cognitive resources for deeper processing. However, researchers caution that over-simplification may reduce germane load, which is the load devoted to the processes of learning itself, thereby diminishing the depth of understanding. Thus, a balance must be struck.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es la razón principal por la que un mal diseño instruccional puede perjudicar el aprendizaje?
A. A. Aumenta la complejidad intrínseca del material.
B. B. Reduce la carga pertinente necesaria para el procesamiento profundo.
C. C. Crea una carga cognitiva innecesaria que abruma la memoria de trabajo.
D. D. Impide que los estudiantes utilicen eficazmente los ejemplos resueltos.
✅ 正确答案
C. It creates unnecessary cognitive load that overwhelms working memory.
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