Passage Reference: You cannot usually get Housing Benefit if: • you have savings of over £16,000, unless you are getting the 'guarantee credit' of Pension Credit

Common Mistake: Some students write may not, but that changes the strength of the rule. The passage uses cannot, so you must copy that exact word. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'You cannot usually get Housing Benefit if you have savings of over £16,000' = Summary: 'If your savings are more than £16,000, you ___ receive Housing Benefit.'

Tips: When a rule sounds strong, look for exact words like cannot or must not and copy them.

Key Vocabulary:

• eligible = allowed
• savings = money you keep

Question Focus: Exception for full-time students

Correct Answer: children

Passage Reference: you're a full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children

Why this is correct: The passage says full-time students usually cannot get Housing Benefit unless they are disabled or have children. The summary focuses on this exception.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write disabled, but the summary sentence already says 'with', and the most direct match here is children. Choosing the wrong exception is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children)' = Summary: 'a full-time student with ___'

Tips: When you see unless, pay attention. IELTS often tests exceptions.

Key Vocabulary:

• unless = except if
• eligible = allowed

Question Focus: How Child Benefit is treated in calculations

Correct Answer: counted

Passage Reference: Child Benefit is no longer counted as income when working out how much Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you can get.

Why this is correct: The passage states that Child Benefit is no longer counted as income when calculating Housing Benefit. The summary shortens this to not counted any more.

Common Mistake: Students may write included, but the passage uses counted. You must copy the exact word. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'no longer counted as income' = Summary: 'is not ___ any more'

Tips: For FIB questions, never change the word form. Copy exactly.

Key Vocabulary:

• counted = included in calculation
• income = money you receive

Question Focus: Groups affected by the Child Benefit change

Correct Answer: low income

Passage Reference: In addition, some low income families may now get Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit as a result of this change.

Why this is correct: The passage clearly mentions some low income families as a group affected by the change. The summary copies this phrase directly.

Common Mistake: Some students write poor or working, but those words are not in the passage. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'some low income families may now get Housing Benefit' = Summary: 'some ___ families may get more benefits'

Tips: If the answer is two words in the passage, use both if the word limit allows.

Key Vocabulary:

• low income = not much money
• benefit = financial help

Question Focus: What is included in eligible rent

Correct Answer: play areas

Passage Reference: Eligible rent includes: -rent for the accommodation -charges for some services, such as lifts, communal laundry facilities or play areas

Why this is correct: Under eligible rent, the passage lists service charges such as lifts, communal laundry facilities or play areas. The summary asks which children's facilities are included.

Common Mistake: Students may choose food or water charges, but those are listed as NOT included. This is a contradiction trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'charges for some services, such as ... play areas' = Summary: 'Children's ___ are included'

Tips: Watch for lists. IELTS often tests items that ARE included versus NOT included.

Key Vocabulary:

• eligible = allowed
• communal = shared

Question Focus: Payment method for council tenants

Correct Answer: rent account

Passage Reference: it's paid If you are a council tenant, your council will pay any Housing Benefit straight into your rent account.

Why this is correct: The passage explains that for council tenants, Housing Benefit is paid straight into the rent account. The summary repeats this idea directly.

Common Mistake: Some students write bank account, but that applies to non-council tenants. This is a context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'paid ... straight into your rent account' = Summary: 'paid into your ___'

Tips: Always check who the rule applies to. Council tenant versus non-council tenant matters.

Key Vocabulary:

• tenant = person who rents
• account = payment record

Question Focus: Payment methods for non-council tenants

Correct Answer: cheque

Passage Reference: ent account. If you're not a council tenant, your Housing Benefit will be paid: -to you by cheque -by Direct Payment into your bank or building so

Why this is correct: For non-council tenants, the passage lists two methods: by cheque or Direct Payment. The summary already mentions Direct Payment, so the missing option is cheque.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes repeat Direct Payment, but it is already given in the sentence. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'paid to you by cheque or by Direct Payment' = Summary: 'by Direct Payment or ___'

Tips: If one option is already in the summary, the answer must be the other option from the passage.

Key Vocabulary:

• cheque = paper payment
• payment = money given

General Tips:

• FIB questions follow passage order. Find gap 1, then keep reading forward for the next answers.
• Always copy the exact word or words from the passage. Synonyms are marked wrong.
• Check grammar around the gap. Words like 'with', 'into', or 'or' give strong clues.
• Watch for exceptions using words like 'unless' or 'no longer'. IELTS tests these a lot.