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 load, which is unnecessary mental effort caused by poor presentation. For instance, when a diagram is accompanied by redundant text, learners may split their attention between the two sources, increasing extraneous load. However, intrinsic load, which is inherent to the complexity of the subject matter, cannot be eliminated. Effective teaching strategies often aim to manage intrinsic load by breaking down complex tasks into smaller, sequential steps. Recent studies have shown that optimizing cognitive load can significantly improve problem-solving performance, especially in STEM fields where abstract concepts are prevalent.
❓ 文章によると、外的負荷と内的負荷の主な違いは何ですか？
A. 余計な負荷は学習に有益である一方、内在的負荷は有益ではない。
B. 外在的負荷は、より良い教授設計によって軽減することができる一方、内在的負荷は教材自体に固有のものである。
C. 内在的負荷は不適切な提示によって引き起こされ、一方、外的負荷は課題の複雑さに起因する。
D. どちらのタイプの負荷も、教育現場において同様に管理が難しい。
✅ 正确答案
Extraneous load can be reduced by better instructional design, while intrinsic load is inherent to the material.
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