TOEFL iBT preparation for Ethiopia
Everything you need to understand the test and reach your score, for university in the USA and Canada, plus a guided course with AI feedback on Writing and Speaking.
What is the TOEFL iBT
The TOEFL iBT, run by ETS, is the academic English test most widely used for university admission in the USA and Canada, and accepted by more than 13,000 institutions in over 160 countries. You take it on a computer in under two hours, across four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing.
Since 21 January 2026 the test is adaptive and reports on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point steps. There are no passing or failing TOEFL scores. Each university sets its own minimum. A result stays valid for 2 years. Pick the test your university asks for, the TOEFL or the IELTS, then prepare for that one specifically.
The four sections
Since 21 January 2026 the TOEFL iBT is adaptive: the Reading and Listening sections adjust to your level as you go, so the exact number of questions and the time per section vary slightly from one test taker to the next.
Reading
about 30 minAcademic reading passages plus shorter everyday and word-building tasks. The section is adaptive, so the difficulty adjusts to your answers. It measures how well you understand university-level written English.
Listening
about 29 minConversations, announcements and academic talks, also adaptive. You answer questions on main ideas, detail, purpose and how speakers connect ideas, the way you would in a real lecture or campus conversation.
Speaking
about 8 minSpoken responses recorded on the computer, including listen-and-repeat, interview-style questions, and academic tasks. There is no live interviewer; you speak into a microphone and your recordings are scored.
Writing
about 23 minTyped responses including Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and the Writing for an Academic Discussion task, where you add to an online class discussion with a clear, well-supported post.
The new 1 to 6 score scale
Each section is scored 1 to 6 in half-point steps, and your overall score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. A comparable 0 to 120 overall score appears on score reports until January 2028; most published university requirements are still written on this scale.
| CEFR | TOEFL (1 to 6) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| C2 | 6 | Proficient: handles virtually all English with ease. |
| C1 | 5 to 5.5 | Advanced: ready for demanding university study. |
| B2 | 4 to 4.5 | Upper-intermediate: meets most undergraduate entry levels. |
| B1 | 3 to 3.5 | Intermediate: copes with familiar academic topics. |
| A2 | 2 to 2.5 | Elementary: basic everyday communication. |
| A1 | 1 to 1.5 | Beginner: a few familiar words and phrases. |
TOEFL or IELTS: which should you take?
Both are accepted by most universities, so the honest answer is: check your university first, then pick the test that suits how you work. The TOEFL iBT is accepted by more than 13,000 institutions in over 160 countries.
| TOEFL iBT | IELTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Recorded on a computer, no live examiner. Good if you freeze in face-to-face interviews. | A face-to-face interview with a real examiner. Good if you speak better with a person. |
| Score scale | 1 to 6 in half steps (overall is the average of the four sections), with a comparable 0 to 120 score until 2028. | 0 to 9 in half bands (overall is the average of the four sections). |
| Where it is strongest | Universally safe for the USA and Canada; accepted very widely elsewhere too. | Originated in the UK; very strong across the UK, Australia and the Commonwealth. |
| Delivery | Fully on computer, adaptive, under two hours, results in about 3 days. | Computer-delivered in Ethiopia since June 2026, results in 3 to 5 days. |
The Atenu TOEFL course
One guided course, 8 weeks long, about 10 hours a week, roughly 80 hours in total. Fully online and self-paced, built and tested for phones and low-bandwidth connections. It is built around the new adaptive format, so you practise the way the real test works.
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Foundation and a full diagnostic across all four sections |
| Week 2 | Reading: academic passages, question types and adaptive pacing |
| Week 3 | Listening: lectures, conversations and note-taking |
| Week 4 | Speaking foundations: the recorded tasks and timing |
| Week 5 | Speaking mastery: integrated tasks and pronunciation |
| Week 6 | Writing: the email and Writing for an Academic Discussion task |
| Week 7 | Writing depth and integrated full-section practice |
| Week 8 | Full mock tests under real conditions and a final review |
What makes this course different
AI feedback on every Writing task and Speaking recording, with a score estimate and the top fixes to make next
A practice interface that mirrors the adaptive, computer-delivered TOEFL iBT, so the screen holds no surprises on test day
Built for the new 1 to 6 scale, with the 0 to 120 equivalents you still need for university requirement pages
Localised for Ethiopian students, including the first-language interference patterns that cost Amharic speakers marks
How the program works
The teaching is free. You pay only when you want your work graded and your score assessed. Start free, upgrade when you are ready.
Free
No cost- The full lesson curriculum for all four sections
- A diagnostic to find your starting level
- Score scale and Ethiopia test guidance
- Learn at your own pace, on your phone
Full program
Paid- Full timed mock tests with scoring
- AI feedback on every Writing task and Speaking recording
- Question-bank practice for each section
- Progress dashboard and a certificate
Pricing for the full program is shared on Telegram. Atenu does not sell the TOEFL test itself.
Taking the TOEFL in Ethiopia
The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is available in Ethiopia. It is the same test as the test-centre version, taken at home on your own computer and monitored online by a human proctor. For students far from Addis Ababa it is a reliable option.
You can sit the TOEFL iBT at a test centre or at home. Test-centre seats and locations in Ethiopia change over time, so the official ETS centre search inside the registration flow is the only up-to-date list. Book through your own ETS account, not a third-party broker. Official scores arrive in about 3 days, in your ETS account.
The TOEFL fee is set by ETS and changes over time, so always confirm the current fee when you register. Atenu does not sell the TOEFL test itself.
TOEFL frequently asked questions
What is the TOEFL and who needs it?
The TOEFL iBT, run by ETS, is an academic English test used for university admission. It is the universally safe choice for the USA and Canada and is accepted by more than 13,000 institutions in over 160 countries. If you are applying to study abroad in English, your university most likely accepts the TOEFL or the IELTS; check which, then prepare for that one.
What changed with the TOEFL in 2026?
Since 21 January 2026 the TOEFL iBT is adaptive, has new task types, and reports on a 1 to 6 scale instead of 0 to 120. The four sections and the under-two-hours length stayed the same. For two years, until January 2028, your score report also shows a comparable 0 to 120 score, because most university requirement pages are still written that way.
How is the TOEFL scored now?
Each of the four sections is scored from 1 to 6 in half-point steps, and your overall score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. There are no passing or failing TOEFL scores. Each university sets its own minimum. A section score of 5 lines up with CEFR C1. See the scores page for the full scale and the 0 to 120 equivalents.
What TOEFL score do I need?
It depends on the university. Many undergraduate programmes look for around CEFR B2 (about 4 to 4.5 on the new scale, roughly 72 to 94 on 0 to 120); more selective universities want C1 (a 5, roughly 95 to 110). Always confirm the exact requirement on your programme page, then set that as your target.
Can I take the TOEFL in Ethiopia?
The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is available in Ethiopia. It is the same test as the test-centre version, taken at home on your own computer and monitored online by a human proctor. For students far from Addis Ababa it is a reliable option. You can sit the TOEFL iBT at a test centre or at home. Test-centre seats and locations in Ethiopia change over time, so the official ETS centre search inside the registration flow is the only up-to-date list. Book through your own ETS account, not a third-party broker.
TOEFL or IELTS, which should I take?
Both are widely accepted. The TOEFL records your Speaking on a computer with no live examiner, which suits students who freeze in interviews; the IELTS uses a face-to-face interview. The TOEFL is the safe default for the USA and Canada. Check your university first, then choose the test that suits how you work. We run an IELTS hub too, at ielts.atenu.org.
How is the Atenu TOEFL course delivered?
Fully online and self-paced, built and tested for phones and low-bandwidth connections. It runs over 8 weeks, around 10 hours a week, and gives you AI feedback on every Writing task and Speaking recording. You study at your own pace and can revisit any lesson.
How do I join?
Start with the free lessons, then message us on Telegram for intake details and the graded program. Pricing is shared on Telegram, never on this site.
Start preparing today
Understand the test, then begin the free lessons, or message us on Telegram with any question.