The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional designers often aim to manage cognitive load to optimize learning. According to Sweller's cognitive load theory, there are three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Intrinsic load is inherent to the complexity 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 contributes to learning. Research suggests that reducing extraneous load through clear instructional design can free up working memory resources, allowing learners to engage more deeply with the content. However, simply lowering intrinsic load may not always be beneficial, as some level of challenge is necessary for deep processing and skill acquisition.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál de las siguientes afirmaciones es verdadera sobre la carga cognitiva?
A. A. La carga extrínseca siempre es beneficiosa para el aprendizaje.
B. B. Reducir la carga intrínseca es la forma más efectiva de mejorar el aprendizaje.
C. C. La carga pertinente ayuda a comprender y aprender el material.
D. D. La teoría de la carga cognitiva sugiere que todos los tipos de carga deberían minimizarse.
✅ 正确答案
C. Germane load helps in understanding and learning 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