Entering college has become an increasingly fraught milestone for Ethiopian students in recent years. Since reforms to the national examination system in 2022, pass rates have plunged: more than 3.1 million students have sat for the exams over the past four years, and only about 4.6 percent have passed. What was once a difficult rite of passage has become, for many, a near wall.

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Facing those odds at the end of high school, students are trying a range of strategies to clear the hurdle. One education-technology startup, founded by a young software engineer who failed the exam on his first attempt, is betting that better structure, not just more study materials, can make the difference.

The platform, TikuretEntrance, was founded by Dagim Wallelgne and is designed to support students from the moment they enter high school, not just in the frantic months before the test. It offers curriculum-aligned lessons, past national exam questions, mock tests, and performance-tracking tools tailored to Ethiopia’s education system. 

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“Not all students fail because they lack materials,” Dagim told Shega. “Many struggle because they lack focus, structure, and regular guidance.”

TikuretEntrance is available in English, Amharic, Afan Oromo, and Tigrinya, widening access for students across regions and language backgrounds. It covers core subjects, including mathematics, natural sciences, English, and civics, combining digital notes with timed practice exams designed to mirror real testing conditions. After each assessment, students receive automated feedback and detailed explanations, helping them identify weak areas and adjust their study plans.

“I failed the exam first, not because of academic weakness, but because I lacked structure,” Dagim recalled. “There was also little clarity about what to expect from the exam.”

Since its launch, TikuretEntrance has onboarded more than 200 active users and was part of a startup mentorship program under the Disruptor’s Den, a platform for emerging Ethiopian entrepreneurs.

Through a personalized dashboard, users can access previous entrance exams, build customized study schedules, follow guided learning paths and track progress over time. Performance analytics highlight strengths and gaps across subjects, while an exam-countdown tool helps students plan their preparation more strategically.

The platform also includes study groups and peer-support features, allowing students to revise collaboratively, alongside a growing digital library of learning resources that is updated as curricula change. Additional tools offer revision strategies, preparation tips and early access to new features.

Unlike platforms that emphasize large volumes of downloadable content, TikuretEntrance focuses on consistency and habit-building, encouraging students to study in smaller, regular intervals rather than cramming at the last minute.

To support learners outside school hours, the company offers round-the-clock assistance through WhatsApp and Telegram, where students can ask questions, report technical problems and receive academic guidance. The service is fully mobile-friendly and runs through a web interface rather than a dedicated app, a choice intended to reduce barriers for students using lower-end phones or devices with limited storage.

TikuretEntrance operates on a subscription model, charging 499 Birr for annual access, and is pursuing partnerships with secondary schools as well as referral programs to expand adoption in both public and private institutions.

For now, the platform is centered on individual learners. But the founders say they are developing tools that would allow parents and schools to monitor student progress, a sign of growing interest in data-driven approaches to exam preparation in a system where the stakes of a single test have rarely felt higher.