An IELTS company fit for a king?

As a leading IELTS (English language proficiency testing) company, we are constantly amazed at the range and complexity of the English language. Take, for example, the British coronation ceremony. The United Kingdom is crowning its King Charles the Third this coming Saturday 6 May 2023. And to mark this new Carolean era, we are giving you a handy guide to many of the more obscure nouns associated with the coronation event that you may hear on the BBC or when watching the coronation on various broadcast channels this coming weekend.

Whilst it is unlikely that some of these words will appear in an IELTS test, we thought we would include them here in this blog post.

Orb: This is a fancy word for a sphere or ball. In the context of the King’s coronation ceremony, the orb is a globe with a cross on the top, symbolising the Christian world.

Sceptre: This is a word for an ornate staff or wand. In the coronation ceremony, the King will hold a sceptre, which represents the ruler’s power and authority.

Robe: This one is pretty easy - a robe is a long, loose-fitting garment worn over other clothes. During the coronation, the monarch wears a special robe that is typically made of velvet and ermine (a type of fur).

Crown: Again an easy one? A crown is a decorative headpiece worn by monarchs as a symbol of their royal status, often adorned with precious jewels and intricate designs.

Anointing spoon: This is a small and exquisite spoon used during the anointing ceremony, in which the monarch is anointed with holy oil. The British Royal anointing spoon is made of gold and is believed to date back to the 12th century.

Now, you may be wondering why we are talking about British coronations in a blog post about IELTS testing? The answer is simple - the IELTS test assesses your ability to understand and use English in a variety of real-life situations, including formal events like a coronation ceremony. By learning about obscure nouns like orb, sceptre, robe, crown, and anointing spoon, you can improve your vocabulary and feel more confident in your English language skills.

So, there you have it; a brief introduction to some of the more peculiar nouns associated with the British coronation ceremony. We hope this blog post has been informative and entertaining, and that it inspires you to continue learning and improving your English language proficiency. And if you're looking to take an IELTS test, remember that MTS offers IELTS on Computer or IELTS on Paper at over 25 venues across the UK and Ireland.