Practice Tests
IELTS Reading (AC) Task 1 #121

A. Memory is a fundamental cognitive process that allows us to encode, store, and retrieve information over time. It is not a single, monolithic entity but a complex system composed of different types of memory, each with distinct characteristics and functions. Psychologists typically categorise memory into three main stages: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Understanding how these systems interact is crucial to comprehending how we learn, form our identities, and navigate the world around us.

B. The process begins with sensory memory, which is a very brief buffer for information received through the senses. It holds an exact replica of a sensory experience, such as the visual image of a passing car or the sound of a voice, for only a fraction of a second. If this information is attended to, it can be transferred to short-term memory, also known as working memory. This system has a limited capacity, famously described as holding around seven items of information, and it retains this information for a short period, typically less than a minute, unless it is actively rehearsed.

C. For information to be retained indefinitely, it must be transferred from short-term to long-term memory. This process, called consolidation, is facilitated by rehearsal, elaboration, and associating the new information with existing knowledge. Long-term memory has a seemingly limitless capacity and duration. It is further divided into two main types: explicit (or declarative) memory, which involves the conscious recall of facts and events, and implicit (or non-declarative) memory, which is unconscious and includes procedural skills like riding a bicycle or conditioned responses.

D. Forgetting is an equally important aspect of memory, as it allows the brain to filter out irrelevant or outdated information. Forgetting can occur due to decay, where memory traces fade over time, or interference, where other memories get in the way of retrieval. The study of memory and its fallibility, as seen in phenomena like false memories and eyewitness testimony errors, has significant implications for fields ranging from education, where it informs effective learning strategies, to the legal system, where it highlights the need for caution in relying on memory alone.