IELTS Essay: Fixed Income to Support Charity

Everybody should donate a fixed amount of their income to support charity.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The concept of philanthropy and charitable giving has gained significant attention in recent
years. One prominent viewpoint suggests that everyone should contribute a fixed portion of their
income to support charitable causes, although I would side with those holding the opposite
opinion.

Charitable donations play a pivotal role in addressing poverty. When individuals allocate a fixed
portion of their income, it ensures a steady flow of resources to organizations dedicated to
poverty alleviation. For example, groups like Oxfam and UNICEF rely on public donations to
implement projects that provide food, clean water, and healthcare services to impoverished
communities. The consistent support from individuals enables these organizations to make a
lasting impact, uplifting vulnerable populations and offering them a chance for a better future.

While the recommendation of mandatory donations has its merits, it is essential to acknowledge
that individuals have diverse financial situations and priorities. Forcing every individual to
donate a fixed portion of their income can be seen an infringement on personal freedom. In
placing this burden on citizens, there may be a resultant backlash that does more harm than the
originally intended good. Relatedly, it is important to recognize that there are alternative ways of
supporting charitable causes, such as volunteering time and skills. Encouraging a culture of
giving without imposing strict regulations may allow individuals to better choose the method that
aligns with their personal circumstances and values.

In conclusion, the contention that everyone should donate a fixed amount of their income to
support charity aligns with the ideal of an equitable society. However, it is crucial to consider
individual circumstances and preferences, ensuring that the act of giving remains a voluntary and
personally meaningful endeavor.

Analysis
1. The concept of philanthropy and charitable giving has gained significant attention in recent
years. 2. One prominent viewpoint suggests that everyone should contribute a fixed portion of
their income to support charitable causes, although I would side with those holding the opposite
opinion.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.

2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Charitable donations play a pivotal role in addressing poverty. 2. When individuals allocate a
fixed portion of their income, it ensures a steady flow of resources to organizations dedicated to
poverty alleviation. 3. For example, groups like Oxfam and UNICEF rely on public donations to
implement projects that provide food, clean water, and healthcare services to impoverished
communities. 4. The consistent support from individuals enables these organizations to make a
lasting impact, uplifting vulnerable populations and offering them a chance for a better future.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.

2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.

1. While the recommendation of mandatory donations has its merits, it is essential to

acknowledge that individuals have diverse financial situations and priorities. 2. Forcing every
individual to donate a fixed portion of their income can be seen an infringement on personal
freedom. 3. In placing this burden on citizens, there may be a resultant backlash that does more
harm than the originally intended good. 4. Relatedly, it is important to recognize that there are
alternative ways of supporting charitable causes, such as volunteering time and skills. 5.
Encouraging a culture of giving without imposing strict regulations may allow individuals to
better choose the method that aligns with their personal circumstances and values.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, the contention that everyone should donate a fixed amount of their income to
support charity aligns with the ideal of an equitable society. 2. However, it is crucial to consider
individual circumstances and preferences, ensuring that the act of giving remains a voluntary and
personally meaningful endeavor.

1. Summarise your main ideas.

 2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then
check below.

The concept of philanthropy and charitable giving has gained significant attention in recent
years. One prominent viewpoint suggests that everyone should contribute a fixed portion of
their income to support charitable causes, although I would side with those holding the
opposite opinion.

Charitable donations play a pivotal role in addressing poverty. When individuals allocate a
fixed portion of their income, it ensures a steady flow of resources to organizations dedicated
to poverty alleviation. For example, groups like Oxfam and UNICEF rely on public donations
to implement projects that provide food, clean water, and healthcare services to impoverished
communities. The consistent support from individuals enables these organizations to make a
lasting impact, uplifting vulnerable populations and offering them a chance for a better
future.

While the recommendation of mandatory donations has its merits, it is essential to

acknowledge that individuals have diverse financial situations and priorities. Forcing every
individual to donate a fixed portion of their income can be seen an infringement on personal
freedom. In placing this burden on citizens, there may be a resultant backlash that does more
harm than the originally intended good. Relatedly, it is important to recognize that there are
alternative ways of supporting charitable causes, such as volunteering time and skills.
Encouraging a culture of giving without imposing strict regulations may allow individuals to
better choose the method that aligns with their personal circumstances and values.

In conclusion, the contention that everyone should donate a fixed amount of their income to
support charity aligns with the ideal of an equitable society. However, it is crucial to consider
individual circumstances and preferences, ensuring that the act of giving remains a voluntary
and personally meaningful endeavor.

Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you
remember the new vocabulary:

concept: notion
philanthropy: benevolence
charitable giving: altruistic donations
gained significant attention: garnered substantial interest
One prominent viewpoint suggests that: One prevailing perspective posits that
contribute a fixed portion of their income: donate a predetermined percentage of their earnings
support charitable causes: endorse philanthropic endeavors
I would side with those holding the opposite opinion: I would align myself with those advocating
a different standpoint
play a pivotal role in addressing poverty: play a crucial part in tackling poverty
allocate: distribute
ensures: guarantees
steady flow of resources: consistent supply of resources
organizations dedicated to poverty alleviation: institutions committed to alleviating poverty
rely on public donations: depend on contributions from the public
implement projects: execute initiatives
healthcare services: medical assistance
impoverished communities: underprivileged populations
consistent support: unwavering assistance
make a lasting impact: create a durable impression
uplifting vulnerable populations: empowering disadvantaged groups
offering them a chance for a better future: providing them an opportunity for a brighter tomorrow
recommendation: suggestion
mandatory donations: obligatory contributions
merits: advantages
acknowledge: recognize
diverse financial situations: varied economic circumstances
priorities: preferences
Forcing: compelling
infringement: violation
personal freedom: individual liberty
In placing this burden on: By imposing this responsibility on
resultant backlash: consequent negative response
harm: damage
originally intended good: initially envisioned benefit
Relatedly: In a related vein
recognize: acknowledge
alternative ways of: other means of
volunteering time and skills: offering one's time and expertise
Encouraging: Promoting
culture of giving: atmosphere of generosity
imposing strict regulations: enforcing stringent rules
method: approach
aligns with: corresponds to
personal circumstances and values: individual situations and principles
contention: disagreement
aligns with the ideal of an equitable society: corresponds to the vision of a fair society
crucial: vital
consider: contemplate
preferences: inclinations
ensuring: guaranteeing
act of giving: gesture of generosity
personally meaningful endeavor: personally significant undertaking

Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈkɒnsɛpt
fɪˈlænθrəpi
ˈʧærətəbᵊl ˈɡɪvɪŋ
ɡeɪnd sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊnt əˈtɛnʃᵊn
wʌn ˈprɒmɪnənt ˈvjuːpɔɪnt səˈʤɛsts ðæt
kənˈtrɪbjuːt ə fɪkst ˈpɔːʃᵊn ɒv ðeər ˈɪnkʌm
səˈpɔːt ˈʧærətəbᵊl ˈkɔːzɪz
aɪ wʊd saɪd wɪð ðəʊz ˈhəʊldɪŋ ði ˈɒpəzɪt əˈpɪnjən
pleɪ ə ˈpɪvətᵊl rəʊl ɪn əˈdrɛsɪŋ ˈpɒvəti
ˈæləʊkeɪt
ɪnˈʃɔːz
ˈstɛdi fləʊ ɒv rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ˌɔːɡᵊnaɪˈzeɪʃᵊnz ˈdɛdɪkeɪtɪd tuː ˈpɒvəti əˌliːviˈeɪʃᵊn
rɪˈlaɪ ɒn ˈpʌblɪk dəʊˈneɪʃᵊnz
ˈɪmplɪmənt ˈprɒʤɛkts
ˈhɛlθkeə ˈsɜːvɪsɪz
ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃt kəˈmjuːnətiz
kənˈsɪstᵊnt səˈpɔːt
meɪk ə ˈlɑːstɪŋ ˈɪmpækt
ʌpˈlɪftɪŋ ˈvʌlnᵊrəbᵊl ˌpɒpjəˈleɪʃᵊnz
ˈɒfərɪŋ ðɛm ə ʧɑːns fɔːr ə ˈbɛtə ˈfjuːʧə
ˌrɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃᵊn
ˈmændətᵊri dəʊˈneɪʃᵊnz
ˈmɛrɪts
əkˈnɒlɪʤ
daɪˈvɜːs faɪˈnænʃᵊl ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃᵊnz
praɪˈɒrətiz
ˈfɔːsɪŋ
ɪnˈfrɪnʤmənt
ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈfriːdəm
ɪn ˈpleɪsɪŋ ðɪs ˈbɜːdᵊn ɒn
rɪˈzʌltᵊnt ˈbæklæʃ
hɑːm
əˈrɪʤᵊnᵊli ɪnˈtɛndɪd ɡʊd
rɪˈleɪtɪdli
ˈrɛkəɡnaɪz
ɒlˈtɜːnətɪv weɪz ɒv
ˌvɒlənˈtɪərɪŋ taɪm ænd skɪlz
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪŋ
ˈkʌlʧər ɒv ˈɡɪvɪŋ
ɪmˈpəʊzɪŋ strɪkt ˌrɛɡjəˈleɪʃᵊnz
ˈmɛθəd
əˈlaɪnz wɪð
ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈsɜːkəmstɑːnsɪz ænd ˈvæljuːz
kənˈtɛnʃᵊn
əˈlaɪnz wɪð ði aɪˈdɪəl ɒv ən ˈɛkwɪtəbᵊl səˈsaɪəti
ˈkruːʃᵊl
kənˈsɪdə
ˈprɛfᵊrᵊnsɪz
ɪnˈʃɔːrɪŋ
ækt ɒv ˈɡɪvɪŋ
ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊli ˈmiːnɪŋfᵊl ɪnˈdɛvə

Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down
the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The c_______ of p___________y and c________________g has

g________________________n in recent years.
O__________________________________________t everyone should
c______________________________________e to s_____________________________s,
although I w_______________________________n.

Charitable donations p_______________________________y. When individuals a_________e

a fixed portion of their income, it e____s a s_________________________s to
o______________________________n. For example, groups like Oxfam and UNICEF
r__________________________s to i_______________s that provide food, clean water, and
h_________________s to i_________________________________s. The
c_____________________t from individuals enables these organizations to
m___________________________t, u___________________________s and
o_______________________________________e.

While the r____________________n of m__________________s has its m__________s, it is

essential to a______________e that individuals have d_______________________________s
and p____________s. F________g every individual to donate a fixed portion of their income
can be seen an i_____________________t on p___________________m.
I______________________n citizens, there may be a r__________________h that does more
h____m than the o__________________d. R_________y, it is important to r________e that
there are a__________________________f supporting charitable causes, such as
v__________________s. E_____________g a c______________g without
i______________________s may allow individuals to better choose the m_________d that
a_________h their p_______________________________________s.
In conclusion, the c_____________n that everyone should donate a fixed amount of their income
to support charity a_________________________________________________y. However, it is
c________l to c________r individual circumstances and p_____________s, e__________g that
the a___________g remains a voluntary and p_________________________________r.

Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these
activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaN6ibm5r-I&pp=ygUHY2hhcml0eQ%3D%3D

Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/27/briefing/times-charity-fund-giving-tuesday.html

Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Charity

1. Why do people do charity for others?

2. Is charity always altruistic or can it be selfish?
3. What kinds of charities are there in your country?
4. Do corporations in your country contribute to charity?
5. Should charities be allowed to make a profit?

Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

Some people think that famous people can help international aid organizations to draw attention
to important problems. Others believe that the celebrities can make the problems seem less
important.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.