Welcome to Breakaway Test Prep

Thank you for visiting Breakaway Test Prep! Breakaway Test Prep is Minnesota’s leading provider of private, one-on-one instruction for high school students who aspire to attend any of the nation’s more than 2,000 colleges and universities. We provide individualized, comprehensive test preparation for the ACT, SAT, PSAT and SSAT, as well as high-impact academic tutoring to students throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, western Wisconsin, northern Iowa, or anywhere in the world online. We earn our reputation through the consistent success our students achieve on their tests.

Breakaway Test Prep has the distinction of being the exclusive provider of test prep services to many of Minnesota’s leading schools and school districts including the Blake School, the Breck School, Minnehaha Academy, Providence Academy, St. Thomas Academy, the Visitation School, the Bloomington School District, South Washington County Schools, and Southwest High School of Minneapolis Public Schools.

We invite you to explore our website and learn more about our innovative approach to prep and the array of services we offer. You can also click here to read our latest newsletter. Since 2011, Breakaway has been helping our remarkable students achieve remarkable results.

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Thinking about test prep this spring or summer? Think Breakaway!

If you’re thinking about prep for the ACT or SAT, Breakaway has you covered! Breakaway is pleased to present an array of options to help your student get ready to test. Breakaway offers flexible, one-on-one instruction at times convenient for your student, as well as proven small group ACT and SAT instruction for students who enjoy a classroom setting. Whether you’re interested in a fully customizable program of private instruction or any of our proven small group prep classes, Breakaway can help your student reach their potential.

Breakaway offers live, in-person instruction at any of our four offices in the Metro Area: Edina, Eden Prairie, St. Paul and Plymouth, as well as anywhere in the world online.

Breakaway is also a leader in academic tutoring with proven support for nearly 40 different high school and college-level math, science, history and literature classes. Need help with an admissions test for graduate school? Breakaway can help your student prepare for the GMAT, GRE, LSAT and MCAT.

Want to talk to one of our education directors? Give us a call at 612-216-5133 or complete an inquiry form and a Breakaway education director will get in touch right away! Want to read our latest newsletter? Click here to check it out!

Find out how your student would score on a real ACT or SAT. Register for a Breakaway practice test today.

Get started on your ACT or SAT prep!

Ready to get started? Breakaway’s innovative approach to test prep is unrivaled. Our test prep process typically begins by having students complete a full-length practice test, the results of which can be used to develop a customized program of instruction. Breakaway offers proctored practice tests every weekend of the year. Students test from home and log into a Zoom session through which we provide live, online proctoring of the ACT and the SAT – every weekend! Click here to register for a test!

In March 2024, the SAT will become exclusively a digital, adaptive exam, and will no longer offer paper tests. To help students understand what the new test will be like, Breakaway is pleased to offer a FREE digital practice SAT exam. To register for that test, please click here.

Or, if you’d prefer to arrange a call to discuss your student and how Breakaway could help, please click here to complete an inquiry form, or contact Ron Michalak, Breakaway’s founder, at 612-216-5133 or [email protected]

Breakaway’s Monthly Newsletter

Stay apprised of changes to the ACT, SAT, test dates, practice exams, as well as trends and issues in the standardized testing world. Click here to sign up for Breakaway’s monthly newsletter. Or read our latest newsletter by clicking here.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BREAKAWAY

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!

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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

`<`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.

`<`I liked`>` the individual attention to areas of need – not to mention that the personality of the tutor was a great match.

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.

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.