Thinking about summer test prep? Think Breakaway!

If you’re the parent of a current sophomore or junior, now is a great time to be thinking about summer test prep.  Summer before junior year or senior year is the ideal time to prepare for the ACT or the SAT as students are free from the pressures and distractions of the school year.

During the summer, Breakaway offers a variety of test prep solutions to accommodate students’ summer schedules, learning styles and ACT/SAT goals.  These solutions include small group instruction and private, one-on-one instruction. Breakaway can also create customized, do-it-yourself small group prep classes to accommodate busy summer and/or sports schedules.

How the process works 

Current Sophomores 
Current sophomores (rising juniors) can choose between small group instruction or private, one-on-one instruction. Prior to the summer, Breakaway recommends that all students take a practice exam with us, ideally sometime in April, May or early June.  The practice exam will give the student experience dealing with the pressure and time constraints of an ACT or SAT and provide the student with a baseline score against which to measure their progress during summer prep.  Please click here to register your student for a practice test.

Current Juniors
Current juniors (rising seniors) who have already taken the ACT should consider private instruction to prepare for additional testing.  Because private instruction can be tailored to meet specific needs of the student, Breakaway can customize a program of instruction to help a student shore up weaknesses and capitalize on their strengths.  Information about private instruction can be found below.

Overview of Breakaway’s small group ACT and SAT instruction
Small group instruction takes place in either a once-per-week or twice-per-week format.  Once-per-week classes meet for four consecutive weeks (12 hours of instruction) and twice-per-week classes meet for either four or five consecutive weeks (24-27 hours of instruction). Both provide students with excellent introductions to the ACT, including reviews of frequently tested concepts and critical time management strategies, and are scheduled to get students ready for the July 18th ACT, the August 29th SAT or the September 12th ACT.

All programs include:

  • Lessons led by Breakaway’s expert ACT (or SAT) instructors who graduated from the nation’s most competitive colleges and universities; 25 of our instructors have completed or are working towards a master’s degree and/or a Ph.D. and all performed at the 98th/99th percentile on their ACTs or SATs
  • Comprehensive reviews of all commonly tested concepts in grammar, algebra I, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, other advanced math topics, chemistry, physics and biology
  • Critical test-taking and time management strategies for all sections of the test, including the time-constrained sections of reading and science
  • A proprietary and proven study guide that provides thorough overviews of each section of the test, including key concepts, hundreds of sample problems and critical insights about test-taking and time-management strategies
  • Access to more than 40 current ACTs
  • Access to Breakaway’s proctored practice tests held every weekend of the summer at our testing center at 3440 Beltline Blvd. in St. Louis Park or monthly practice tests at our St. Paul facility at 1200 Center Pointe Curve, Suite #300, Mendota Heights, 55120

Program information based on targeted test date can be found below.

Small group test prep for the July 18th ACT 

Location: Blake School Minneapolis Campus (open to ALL students)

Blake School A: June 15 – July 15 (Mondays & Wednesdays) – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (24 hours)
Blake School B: June 16 – July 16 (Tuesdays & Thursdays) – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (24 hours)

  • Week One: Introduction to the English test
  • Week Two: Introduction to the math test
  • Week Three: Introduction to the reading and writing tests
  • Week Four: Introduction to the science test
  • No classes the week of July 1st – July 7th
  • Cost: $1,195, including materials and access to Breakaway’s weekend practice tests

Registration for this program is managed by the Blake School.  To register, please click here or to learn more, please contact Ron Michalak, Breakaway’s president, at [email protected] or 612–216–5133.

Small group test prep for the September 12th ACT  

1. Small Group ACT Instruction at The Blake School

Location: Blake School Minneapolis Campus (open to ALL students)

Blake School C: July 13– August 12 (Mondays & Wednesdays) – 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (27 hours)
Blake School D: July 14 – August 13 (Tuesdays & Thursdays) – 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (27 hours)
Blake School E: July 14 – August 13 (Tuesdays & Thursdays) – 1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. (27 hours)

  • Week One: Introduction to the English test
  • Week Two: Introduction to the math test
  • Week Three: Introduction to the reading test
  • Week Four: Introduction to the science test
  • Week Five: Introduction to the writing test and comprehensive review
  • Cost: $1,395, including materials and access to Breakaway’s weekend practice tests

Registration for this program is managed by the Blake School.  To register, please click here or to learn more, please contact Ron Michalak, Breakaway’s president, at [email protected] or 612–216–5133.

2. Small Group ACT Instruction in St. Louis Park 

Location: Breakaway’s office in St. Louis Park

St. Louis Park A: July 27 – August 26 – (Mondays & Wednesdays) – 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (27 hours)
St. Louis Park B: July 28 – August 27 – (Tuesdays & Thursdays) – 9:00 a.m. – 11.45 a.m. (27 hours)

  • Week One: Introduction to the English test
  • Week Two: Introduction to the math test
  • Week Three: Introduction to the reading test
  • Week Four: Introduction to the science test
  • Week Five: Introduction to the writing test and comprehensive review
  • Cost: $1,395, which includes all materials and access to our weekend practice tests

To register or to learn more about the St. Louis Park small group, please contact Ron Michalak at [email protected] or 612-216-5133.

3. Small Group ACT Instruction at the Minnetonka Community Center

Location: Minnetonka Community Center

Minnetonka A – July 22 – August 12 (Wednesdays) – 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. (12 hours)

  • Week One: Introduction to the English test
  • Week Two: Introduction to the math test
  • Week Three: Introduction to the reading test
  • Week Four: Introduction to the science test
  • The cost is $695, which includes materials and access to the weekend practice tests.

To register or to learn more about the Minnetonka class, please contact Lori Wormald, Breakaway‘s Wayzata director, at [email protected] or 952-913-1027.

4. Small Group ACT Instruction at Providence Academy

Location: Providence Academy High School

Providence A – July 31 – August 28 (Fridays) – 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (12 hours)

  • Week One: Introduction to the English test
  • Week Two: Introduction to the math test
  • Week Three: Introduction to the reading test
  • Week Four: Introduction to the science test
  • Week Five: Comprehensive review
  • The cost is $695, which includes materials and access to the weekend practice tests.

To register or to learn more about the Providence Academy class, please contact Barbara Jeffers, Breakaway‘s Maple Grove/Northwest Suburbs director, at [email protected] or 612-396-9676.

5.  DIY ACT Small Group Instruction 

Location: TBD

Want to work in a small group but find that none of the options above meets your student’s availability?  Organize your own small group prep program with Breakaway’s help!  Breakaway can help you put together a customized program of instruction for your group or team this summer.  We can help train 2-10 students or more in a small group setting.

From rowing teams to groups of friends who’d prefer to prep together, Breakaway can provide outstanding instructors, a comprehensive test prep program and a proven set of materials virtually anytime and anywhere in the metro area.  With teams of instructors in St. Paul, Edina/St. Louis Park, Eden Prairie, Wayzata and Plymouth, we can make ACT prep fun and convenient this summer.

Please contact Ron Michalak, Breakaway’s president, to discuss a customized ACT prep option for your group this summer.  Ron can be reached at [email protected] or 612-216-5133.

Small group test prep for the August 29th SAT

Small Group SAT Instruction at The Blake School

Location: Blake School Minneapolis Campus (open to ALL students)

Blake School F: July 13– August 12 (Mondays & Wednesdays) – 1:00p.m. – 3:45p.m. (27 hours)

  • Week One: Introduction to the reading test
  • Week Two: Introduction to the writing test
  • Week Three: Introduction to the math test
  • Week Four: Introduction to the math test
  • Week Five: Introduction to the essay and comprehensive review
  • Cost: $1,395, including materials and access to Breakaway’s weekend practice tests

Registration for this program is managed by the Blake School.  To register, please click here or to learn more, please contact Ron Michalak, Breakaway’s president, at [email protected] or 612–216–5133.

Private ACT or SAT instruction with Breakaway this summer!

Breakaway is pleased to offer the Twin Cities’ finest one-on-one instruction for the ACT and SAT. Private instruction with Breakaway includes the following:

  • One-on-one instruction with two of Breakaway’s expert instructors: one instructor will manage English, reading and writing with the student, and the other will help with math and science
  • Comprehensive reviews of all commonly tested concepts in grammar, algebra I, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, other advanced math topics, chemistry, physics and biology
  • Critical test-taking and time management strategies for all sections of the test, including the time-constrained sections of reading and science
  • A proprietary and proven study guide that provides thorough overviews of each section of the test, including key concepts, hundreds of sample problems and critical insights about test-taking and time-management strategies
  • Access to more than 40 current ACTs
  • Access to Breakaway’s proctored practice tests held every weekend of the summer at our testing center at 3440 Beltline Blvd. in St. Louis Park or monthly practice tests at our St. Paul facility at 1200 Center Pointe Curve, Suite #300, Mendota Heights, 55120

Breakaway is pleased to offer private instruction in various convenient locations across the metro area.

  • To learn more about prep in Edina, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis and Minnetonka, contact Ron Michalak, Breakaway’s president, at [email protected] or 612–216–5133.
  • In Eden Prairie, Chanhassen and Chaska, please contact Matt McManus, Breakaway director. at [email protected] or 612-578-9995.
  • In St. Paul and St. Paul suburbs, please contact John Kingsbury, Breakaway director, at [email protected] or 218-791-7910.
  • In Wayzata, Mound and Orono, please contact Lori Wormald, Breakaway director, at [email protected] or 952-913-1027.
  • In Northeast Suburbs, please contact Barbara Jeffers, Breakaway director, at [email protected] or 612-396-9676.
  • For private ACT instruction for students with learning issues and/or attention disorders, please contact Rachel Erickson, Breakaway’s director for students with learning issues, at rachel@breakawaytestprep.com or 218-201-2615.

Summer Bootcamps

Breakaway run a series of intensive bootcamps before every ACT.  These bootcamps provide students with a thorough, rigorous review and practice of individual areas of the ACT and are meant to supplement other forms of test preparation (one-on-one and/or small group instruction).

Each Bootcamp is 2+ hours in length and costs $180.

Dates of summer bootcamps:

July 18th ACT

  • ACT English – July 11th – 9am – 11:15 am
  • ACT Math – July 11th – 3pm – 5:15 pm
  • ACT Reading – July 12th – 9am – 11:15 am
  • ACT Science – July 12th – 3pm – 5:15 pm

September 12th ACT

  • ACT English – August 29th – 9am – 11:15 am
  • ACT Math – August 29th – 3pm – 5:15 pm
  • ACT Reading – August 30th – 9am – 11:15 am
  • ACT Science – August 30th – 3pm – 5:15 pm

For more information, please contact Lori Wormald, Breakaway director, at [email protected] or 952-913-1027.