To explore the characteristics of resource allocation and utilization in elderly individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods: Forty patients with aMCI underwent a Chinese "repeat-recall" speech cognitive function test (RRT), and their resource allocation and utilization indices during auditory tasks were calculated and compared with those of cognitively normal elderly individuals. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify cognitive items potentially related to resource allocation and utilization. Results: In low-context situations, when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was 5 and -5 dB, resource allocation in the aMCI group was significantly higher than that in the cognitively normal elderly group (P<0.01). In high-context situations, when the SNR was 0 dB, resource allocation in the aMCI group was also significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the aMCI group demonstrated significantly decreased efficiency in cognitive resource utilization under all testing conditions (all P<0.05). Cognitive resource allocation was negatively correlated with scores on the language item of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Resource utilization ability was strongly positively correlated with language and also correlated with other cognitive dimensions such as visuospatial and executive function, attention, and orientation. Conclusion: Patients with aMCI allocate more cognitive resources during speech recognition and comprehension processes compared to cognitively normal individuals and demonstrate poorer resource utilization abilities.