Coronavirus update

Covid-19’s impact on admissions testing and Breakaway Test Prep

In this time of uncertainty, together with the entire Breakaway Test Prep team, I wanted to express our wishes to you and your family that you remain safe and well.

I also wanted to let you know that Breakaway is closely monitoring the situation with the ACT and the College Board – including the SAT, SAT subject tests and AP exams. We will continue to provide you with updates as information becomes available.

Please read on to learn more about the virus’ impact on each of the following items:

Breakaway instruction and practice tests
ACT and SAT testing
ACT and SAT test preparation
AP exam preparation
College admissions

Ron Michalak
President
Breakaway Test Prep
612-216-5133

1. Breakaway Instruction and Practice Tests

All Breakaway instruction and practice exams have been moved online. Instructors and families are free to use an online platform of their choice (Zoom, Skype or FaceTime) to conduct lessons. Breakaway is also offering home administrations of our weekend practice exams along with online proctoring of the tests via Zoom. Current students are welcome to take a practice test with us at home. Please click here to register for a practice test.

2. ACT and SAT Testing

Both the April 4th ACT and the May 2nd SAT have been cancelled. ACT has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the U.S. All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT in the next few days informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date.”

The College Board, according to its website, “has not yet cancelled the June 6th SAT and SAT subject test administration and will continue to assess its status”.

College Board is also investigating ways to preserve AP Exams, including the possibility of at-home testing. Click here for more information.

At the present time, the June 6th SAT and June 13th ACT are potential testing options, and we certainly hope that these tests will be available. That said, we believe that students should consider the July ACT and/or the August SAT as alternatives. Registration for both of these exams is currently available. Given the history of significant capacity constraints for these summer tests, we recommend that families consider registering for one of these tests as a precaution amid all the uncertainty.

The best way to access the most current information about the status of any ACT or SAT exam is to visit their websites. Information is usually available right on the homepage. Of course, the ability of the ACT or the SAT to actually administer a test is subject to local conditions, i.e., the local public high school being open and available for testing. As such, you’ll need to check the website of the test center as well to ensure accessibility.

Upcoming ACT Test Dates (available for registration)

June 13th
July 18th

Upcoming ACT Test Dates (available for registration in July)

September 12th
October 24th

Upcoming SAT Test Dates (available for registration)

June 6th

Upcoming SAT Test Dates (available for registration in July)

August 29th
October 3rd

3. ACT and SAT Test Preparation

Many of you reading this have a student at home who was planning to take the March 24th, April 4th and/or April 7th ACT, or the March 14th or May 2nd SAT, all of which were cancelled. Given that your student has done some prep, what are the options going forward?

Since January, we have been helping students prepare for these spring exams. To help your student maintain the momentum they established through their prep and practice, here are several measures we can recommend depending on your circumstances and needs:

Take occasional practice tests. Breakaway has recommended that while preparing for a real ACT or SAT, the student should complete one practice exam every 3-4 weeks. We are currently offering home administrations of practice exams, where families print, administer and score exams at home. Please let me know if you are interested in this option. In addition, we are in the process of identifying an online means to proctor a practice exam, and should have more news available in the coming days.
Continue to practice and prep. During the school year, Breakaway has recommended students do one lesson each week. Students are welcome to continue to meet with this frequency to take advantage of any newfound downtime and to continue to make progress on their test. Alternatively, due to the virus and the uncertainty it has created – both in terms of the test date and everyone’s financial wellbeing – Breakaway instructors could also do “maintenance” lessons on a less frequent basis. For example, students could meet just twice per month for instruction (once per month with each instructor). Continuing to practice and prep would help students maintain the gains they made while taking advantage of more flexibility in their schedules to do some work on the test.

4. AP Exam Preparation

On March 20, the College Board announced that this year’s AP exams, which were scheduled for administration in May, will now be offered to students online due to the Covid-19 outbreak. There will be no face-to-face administration of the exams this year. The full exam schedule, specific free-response question types that will be on each AP Exam, and additional testing details will be available by April 3.

College Board is currently working with a group of educators to identify the exam questions that will make up the 45-minute online assessments. Students will be able to take the tests using a range of devices including phones, tablets and computers. Photos of handwritten work will also be accepted.

In the light of the range of impacts that coronavirus has had on school districts around the country, the AP exams will only include “topics and skills most AP teachers and students have already covered in class by early March”, according to the College Board.

The College Board also acknowledged the security challenges of administering exams online. “The exam questions are designed and administered in ways that prevent cheating; we use a range of digital security tools and techniques, including plagiarism detection software, to protect the integrity of the exams.”

Lastly, the College Board will announce two different testing dates to accommodate students who may want to test earlier. Much more information will be available on April 3, and Breakaway will keep you posted.

For the past eight years, Breakaway has provided support for students preparing for AP exams, including all math, science, literature and history exams. We have nearly 50 instructors, many of whom have master’s or Ph.D. degrees and bring of depth of expertise in their respective areas. We would be happy to help support your student’s efforts to prepare for many of these exams. Please let us know if we can help.

5. College Admissions

In an effort to help you stay apprised of the many changes at the nation’s colleges and universities, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors is consolidating information from a broad set of colleges related to changes in college admission events, deposit dates, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Please click here to access.

Please let us know if we can be of help to you at this time.

Thank you.

Ron Michalak
President, Breakaway Test Prep
612-216-5133
[email protected]

Barbara Jeffers
Director, Maple Grove/Northwest Suburbs
[email protected]
612-396-9676

John Kingsbury
Director, Mendota Heights office
[email protected]
218-791-7910

Lori Wormald
Director, Wayzata office
[email protected]
952-913-1027

Matt McManus
Director, Eden Prairie office
[email protected]
612-578-9995

Rachel Erickson
Director, Students with Learning Disabilities
[email protected]
218-201-2615

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BREAKAWAY

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Breakaway does so much more than just college prep. Your holistic approach to the “whole” child is a gift that keeps on giving well beyond testing. My dyslexic son walked into your program believing himself a poor test taker and just plain “stupid.” He walks away with a 10-point improvement in his results, an ACT score in the 90th percentile, happily proving to himself that he is, beyond all doubt, really quite bright! We so appreciate all the time you took to meet with us, to identify and even change teachers to find the perfect personality and teaching style fit for our son. Thank you for all you do for our children, their futures and perhaps even more importantly, their self-esteem!

Suburban Minneapolis Family
Just wanted to touch base with you. My son `{`a senior at Minnetonka High School`}` scored 4 points higher! He was very excited. Thanks again for the excellent tutoring, you accomplished a lot in only 2 sessions. I will definitely be recommending you to all my friends and family.

Minnetonka father
Just wanted to let you know that my son got his ACT scores back and he scored a 35! Thank you so much for all Breakaway did to help him do so well!

Orono Parent
I appreciate the detailed feedback on my students. In a way, I think they are both looking forward to taking the ACT (and also be glad once it's over). I believe you have instilled a greater degree of confidence, subject knowledge and a positive outlook on the whole process for them....I thank you for that. They have both enjoyed your teaching process and how well you connect with them. My only regret is that we didn't hook up sooner

Benilde St. Margaret's parent
Holy Mother of God! Check this out! A 35! Amazing results – I’m glad he persevered and took it one more time. Thank you!

Breck parent
My daughter was so excited! I almost emailed you Saturday with her news that she scored a 35, but she wanted to tell you in person at last night's lesson. I am very happy for her - and so grateful for your help.

Blake parent
We really appreciated the ability of Breakaway to tailor test prep to our child’s needs. Our daughter began with group sessions and weekend test sessions. The feedback allowed her to efficiently address her weaknesses with one-on-one tutoring. Ron’s personal attention to matching his instructors to our daughter’s needs was greatly appreciated. His follow-through was impressive. Breakaway is a great option for a kid that is willing to work. A real difference-maker.

Edina parent
Thank you for all your great preparation. My daughter scored a 35 overall with 36s in English and Science. Math was a 33. I was very pleased with Breakaway and your personal attention to my daughter. I have already passed your name along to several other parents.

Breck parent
Thanks for all you do. You have given us so much hope for our son. If not for you, we never would have had our son tested for dyslexia.....nor would he have received the extra time he needs. Thanks again

Suburban Minneapolis family
I am so grateful to have had you for both of our daughters last year. My older daughter accepted an invitation to attend her reach school - tough to get into and just awesome. You helped her get from a 22 to a 26 (31 in Science and 30 in math). Without that, she wouldn’t have this opportunity next year. Thank you for all you do! I have one more daughter so if you are still doing this in a few years, we will see you again!

St. Paul family
Ron, I asked my son if he had contacted you about his test scores yet, and he said he had. So I won't be spoiling his surprise of telling you he received a composite score of 34!! Wow, quite an achievement. Most probably the biggest of his life to date. It will open more doors to him than he can imagine and that will also affect the rest of his life as well. Thanks for spending your time with him and obviously doing a fabulous job. I asked my son about the sessions and he said that besides going over the wrong answers on the sample tests, you helped him to understand what sort of thinking process they were looking for. Thanks for 'reaching' him and teaching him in a style he could comprehend. Great work!! You should feel a great sense of satisfaction for getting kids to achieve so greatly. You are gifted! Thanks again.

Parent of a Breck Student
I got a 33 composite!!! I wanted to thank you so much for everything you have done for me regardless of the outcome, but especially now that we can see all of our time and hard work pay off for me today. You took me from a very confused and hopeless but dedicated worker with a 21, my first test with you, all the way to a top tier 33 score. I cannot thank you enough.

Mounds Park Academy student
Thank you for the follow up Ron, and for your continued work with our daughter. It's truly rewarding to see her so motivated and proud of her own achievements. You have inspired her to reach beyond what she thought was possible. We knew she had it in her all along, but sometimes a 'non-parent' voice and coach makes all the difference. Thanks for being that difference in her life at a critical period!

Eastridge High School parent
Ron, you are great - thank you! I can't tell you the peace of mind my husband and I have about all of this stuff with your advice, guidance, and tutoring for our daughter.

Blake School parent
We’re grateful to you Ron. You spend so much time with the students AND the parents AND the follow up….you’re a busy guy!! I don’t know what we’d do without you and are so happy that your name was given to us. We will pass your name on!

Edina High School parent
Thank you so much for working with our son to prepare for the ACT test. I'm thrilled with his first test results.... this is a direct result of having more skills and more confidence in taking the test, which he has gained from working with you. He's so open and receptive to working with you. You're a great teacher!

Wayzata High School parent
Thank you for your lesson summaries. I read every bit. My daughter is re-energized by her new results. Thanks again for your excellent coaching. My daughter highly respects you.

Edina High School parent
We all agree that test prep with you has been time and money well spent. It's an added bonus that we got to know you in the process!

Breck Upper School parent
You accomplished in a few hours what years of schooling and countless explanations from me couldn't.

Mounds Park Academy parent
`{`I liked the`}` clear communication to parents and to student, very well organized, good rapport with student, very positive and encouraging but with high standards.

Edina High School parent
`{`I liked`}` the individual attention to areas of need – not to mention that the personality of the tutor was a great match.

Hopkins High School parent
Ron explained things in a way that made sense to my son and gave him useful strategies for the test questions. He felt like Ron was working with him towards a common goal and enjoyed their sessions. He did not feel ``tutored`` or like the sessions were turning summer into homework. Rather, he felt like they were a team and that Ron really cared about his progress.

Mounds Park Academy parent
Our family was very pleased with the ACT instruction our daughter received from Ron Michalak. We learned about his test preparation instruction from a neighbor and subsequently recommended him to several of our friends. Ron was well-prepared and organized, and he approached lessons with the perfect mix of focus and humor. He raised her practice scores significantly by focusing on the areas in which she needed the most review and continuing to help her gain points in her stronger subject areas.

Hopkins High School parent

Coronavirus update

Covid-19’s impact on admissions testing and Breakaway Test Prep

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BREAKAWAY

Edina / Main Office

Eden Prairie

Learning Disabilities

Plymouth / Northwest Suburbs

St. Paul / Mendota Heights

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