The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, it is often divided into three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Intrinsic load is inherent to the 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 can enhance learning. Research suggests that instructional design should aim to reduce extraneous load, allowing more cognitive resources for germane load, especially when dealing with complex subjects. However, overly simplifying content may lower intrinsic load to a level that undermines deep learning, indicating a delicate balance in curriculum design.
❓ 文章によると、認知的負荷を管理する際のインストラクショナルデザインの主な目標は何ですか？
A. あらゆる種類の認知負荷を排除し、学習をより容易にするために
B. より難しい課題のために内因性負荷を増加させるため
C. 外的負荷を減らし、理解に多くの労力を費やせるようにするため
D. 3種類の認知的負荷を均等に分散するために
✅ 正确答案
To reduce extraneous load so that more effort can be spent on understanding
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