Learn strategies, test taking tips, and gain knowledge that will contribute to your success in the classroom, on the ACT, and future career.
No matter the job field or career path, test taking is often a point of entry and typically the means for advancement. It has been found that students benefit from additional expert instruction and coaching that can give them the academic edge and confidence they need when it comes to this modality for demonstrating knowledge. ACT Advantage is here to support students at a pivotal juncture of their academic careers, offering a variety of support by way of small class instruction, bootcamps, or personalized coaching.
My name is Lauren Bartel, creator of The ACT Advantage. I am an educator of 20 years with experience from middle school to the graduate school level. Teaching experiences include in the districts of Waukesha, Pewaukee, WCTC, Cardinal Stritch, and currently in Merton.
I am originally from the Tosa area where I went to private Lutheran schools. My degrees were earned from UW-Green Bay and Cardinal Stritch. Now I live in Oconomowoc with my husband Jarod and 4-year-old daughter Arya. We are thankful to be settled in Lake Country and enjoy weekends with friends on Okauchee Lake or around town.
The ACT stands for the American College Test. It was designed to gauge if students would be successful in college in a way that would be reliable. To be able to read quickly and accurately, to have English skills needed for written communication, to be able to interpret data, to have attained a certain level of mathematical understanding – these are concepts measured on the ACT.
Ultimately, the skills measured on the ACT matter for every job and career that exists. A student with strong skills is positioned to achieve. In addition, a higher ACT score can open the door to more schools, better schools, direct admit into college programs, and potentially to tuition breaks or scholarships.
February 20, 2024 Article: New Wisconsin Law
ACT Advantage recommends taking the ACT 2-4 times, planning for March to be somewhere in the middle of that sequence. The ACT is free when taken at school, but you’ll register to take it on www.act.org for the other times.
October, December, + June are great times to test other than when students are required to take the ACT at school for the state.
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This opportunity has been designed for a busy student who has not had the opportunity to take classes or receive private coaching. Bootcamps are a one stop shop where students learn high leverage strategies or test hacks that will help them boost their scores in English, Reading, and Science.
Prep in 2025 will be @ Arrowhead High School in January, February, or March.
Offered in summer or fall, ACT prep classes are game changers in terms of skills. Students are exposed to a myriad of strategies and must-knows for English, Reading + Science. The intensity and practice at this level is deep; students are really able to lock in how to be successful on the ACT. Classes average 7 students.
It is a challenge to find a person with skills at the level of college preparation + the time or flexibility to meet the needs of 1:1. For those who will benefit from a lot of private instructional sessions or have a very demanding schedule, a private ACT coach may be the way to go. Coaches have been trained with the ACT Advantage methodologies and routines.
Hartland
Lauren Bartel will have 2 classes on Saturdays, and Sarah Kasprowicz will have 1 class on Tuesday nights. FALL FLYER 2024
Hartland
Tuesdays - Hartland
Join us for a 9 week series for English, Reading, and Science prep for the March test. There will be 2 Tuesday night offerings: 5:00 + 6:15 ...
Tuesdays - Hartland
Arrowhead High School
Kim will prepare juniors for the March ACT by offering a 6 week prep class. Each class will be a rigorous 90 minutes long, and she will take...
Arrowhead High School
Arrowhead High School
Need Reading and English support? Sign up for the Literacy Deep Dive Prep with Lauren in February! This will be a total of three Saturday cl...
Arrowhead High School
Arrowhead High School
This is for students who have not had time to prepare or study for the ACT. Students will learn strategies and hacks to improve their accu...
Arrowhead High School
“I can’t say enough about our experience with Lauren’s ACT academic coaching. From the outset, she communicated clear plans and strategies tailored to my daughter's needs, instilling confidence and direction in her ACT preparation journey. Lauren provided invaluable tools and resources for my daughter to utilize during her study sessions and on the exam. I have no doubt these skills will carry over into her future academic coursework as she moves on to college. The results speak volumes about Lauren's expertise and dedication. Thanks to her guidance, my daughter's ACT scores significantly improved. In addition to her remarkable professional abilities, Lauren's supportive and encouraging demeanor fostered a positive learning environment where my daughter felt motivated to excel. Her personalized attention and genuine investment in my daughter's success truly set her apart.”
“My son Sam was not a naturally gifted test taker and was a hands-on learner, requiring more than the online ACT prep course work. Lauren provided great prep and test taking strategies that allowed Sam to surpass his predicted ACT score and the goal we had set. Her coaching and instruction ensured knowledge and skills Sam would need for years to come. I believe this carried him forward as well as he completed his undergraduate and sat for his GRE. Sam indicates that he continues to use the test strategies he learned with Lauren even now as a 2nd year Doctor of Physical Therapy student.”
“I highly recommend Lauren Bartel who academically coached all my four children from 2016-2022. Each child greatly increased their scores with her help. Lauren was a great resource for learning test-taking strategies for each part of the ACT test, teaching actual concepts as needed. My children gained the most value from the Science, English, and Reading sections. Lauren is very organized, thorough, and relevant in what she teaches. She provided each one with independent practice to do in between sessions and worked to ensure their success in a timed environment. Her communication throughout the process with both myself and my children was outstanding.”
“Both our son and daughter made huge improvements in their ACT scores after being coached by Lauren. She not only coached them through the academic parts of the exam, but also on test taking in general. I would highly recommend her as both our kids got into colleges they wanted and both received scholarships based on their ACT scores.”
“We hired Lauren Bartel as our children’s ACT coach the summer between sophomore and junior year to help them better prepare for the unique content and structure of this challenging test. We assumed that they would repeat their coaching sessions during their Junior year, but both our children said they felt confident and they practiced with their materials provided that they didn’t need more sessions. We figured that they would need to take the ACT several times to achieve a desired result. They scored a 28 and 32 respectively on their first attempts and were happy with their results.
Lauren presented the materials in a clear, straightforward manner. The strategies she taught and the practice tests took the anxiety of the unknown out of the testing process. Both of our children were imperturbable the day of the test. We recommend Lauren’s approach to academic coaching, and we can’t thank her enough for making the ACT exam a positive experience that both our children can be proud of! You won’t be disappointed with this investment."
"As a Math ACT coach, Lauren always has been the point person for the English, Reading, and Science sections. Students soar in their ACT scores under Lauren’s exemplary teaching! My own two children have as well by 5-8 points in all the ACT sections—-Lauren is simply outstanding in prepping students for their ACT test—-I HIGHLY recommend Lauren!"
“Over the summer, I worked with Mrs. Bartel, prepping for the ACT. Her expertise not only boosted my confidence, but the strategies she taught me for the English, Reading, and Science sections proved very helpful. These tips and tricks she shared didn’t just aid me in those specific areas but on all four tests, resulting in a significantly higher score than I had anticipated. I’ve integrated her testing strategies and skills into my regular study routines and have been utilizing them on my regular school exams. Forever grateful for her impact on my academic journey!”
"Mrs. Bartel’s ACT coaching in English, Reading and Science helped me tremendously! Her coaching not only gave me confidence going into my first ACT test but increased my scores! I went from a 23 in English to a 30, and I went from a 30 in Reading to a 34. My Science even went up to a 27. The tips and tricks she gave me to excel in the ACT have continued to help me in my AP literature class. Mrs. Bartel gave me many practice tests to take home, guided me in finding the correct answer and thoroughly explained why the answer was correct. Having her guidance prepared me for the many ACT tests but also my academic coursework. Many people I know didn't take the ACT seriously, but I am glad I did . I was so successful."
“Mrs. Bartel helped me not only improve my ACT test scores but my test taking skills in general. Her testing and study ‘hacks’ for English, Reading, and Science have been helpful in college. The methods she taught me have been integrated into my academic routines and her academic coaching made me a more successful student. She found strategies that fit my unique learning needs. I am forever grateful how passionate and patient she was while she was coaching me. The skills you learn while working with Mrs. Bartel will be utilized throughout your academic career.”
“As a parent of a child that struggled in school and has bad test anxiety, we were very concerned that the ACT test would be overwhelming and that it could hurt our daughter’s educational opportunities as she approached her junior year. Lauren put together a comprehensive plan to assist her in strengthening the skills she needed to demonstrate her competence while also acclimatizing her to the test atmosphere. We started working with Lauren two summers before she had to take the ACT and her work with Lauren paid off. First and foremost, Lauren leverages her years of teaching experience to gather an understanding of the student’s strengths and weaknesses. Then, she applies that understanding to the training program that she develops which involves both the student and parent in the process. I have recommended Lauren to many people and continue to do so.”
"I didn't need any Math help, so Lauren coached me specifically in English. She helped me go from 18 to over a 30 in just a few sessions. She helped me by teaching me the basics in English I did not know. This was huge in helping me earn a substantial scholarship. It was very worth the time and obviously worth the investment. Everyone should be coached by her."
“Working with Lauren Bartel as an ACT coach was a game-changer for both of my children. Despite having different abilities and challenges, Lauren tailored her approach to meet each of their needs with precision. Both of my children have consistently been A/B students, but Lauren's expertise was instrumental in helping them excel even further. One of my children struggled with standardized tests, particularly multiple-choice formats. Lauren equipped them with invaluable skills that they continue to utilize in college, enabling them to conquer their test-taking fears and excel academically. The other child, already high-achieving, needed guidance in identifying and addressing their specific weaknesses to elevate their above-average score to the next level. Lauren's personalized coaching was transformative, resulting in significant score improvements for both of them. Lauren Bartel’s dedication, expertise, and personalized approach truly set her apart as an exceptional educator and mentor. I am immensely grateful for the positive impact she has had on my children's academic journeys.”
“I took the ACT bootcamp at Arrowhead a week before I took my first ACT, and I truly believe that it helped so much! The bootcamp was organized very well, with multiple tips for each section along with practice problems that gave me an idea of what the test would be like. I used all the tips from the bootcamp on my ACT, and it provided many strategies on how to achieve the score I wanted. I think that everyone who is taking the ACT can benefit from the bootcamp!”
“We registered our son for ACT Bootcamp @ Arrowhead HS in February 2024. The efficient delivery of information in one session made it more tolerable and less daunting for our reluctant son. He left bootcamp with many applicable strategies as well as additional practice materials, saying it was a worthwhile experience. As a teacher, I definitely saw how the ''test hacks'' taught would make him more efficient and confident during the ACT. He's always been a strong reader, but the English and Science sections were more challenging for him, so Ms. Bartel's tips and methods were especially helpful for him. This session and a quick review of the Bootcamp materials the night before were his only test prep; we are pleased that on his first attempt at the exam, he achieved his goal score. Highly recommend!”
"The coaching helped me in ALL areas of the ACT. I learned the ins and outs of the Reading, Science, and English. It helped me be a more efficient reader for the ACT, annotating clues as I read. I learned all about grammar and punctuation rules which helped improve my practice English ACT score to my real ACT score dramatically. I was shown how to work around the Science section with speed and accuracy. This not only helped my scores on the ACT itself, but these skills I could translate into my classes in school as well. I recommend anyone to take the ACT bootcamp--- especially those willingly and wanting to learn to improve their overall academic knowledge and also to improve their ACT score."
"I was so happy that my daughter attended the AHS bootcamp. Her composite score was much higher than anticipated, and it motivated her to want to test again in June. I wish this existed for my other kids because it was very helpful."
"I am so glad I took Mrs. Bartel's bootcamp because I knew what to do in English, Reading, and Science. I had strategies that helped me do much better than my friends. I even started using what I learned in some of my classes. It was worth going to, and I think all juniors should have to go."
"My daughter participated in one of Lauren's bootcamps and it was such a positive experience for her. She was pretty stressed out after doing the practice ACTs through school, but during the bootcamp and in preparation for the actual test, Lauren gave her some really easy-to-execute and easy-to-remember strategies for what to look for, and how to get through the test efficiently."
"The ACT advantage classes helped raise my confidence for the ACT by going in depth on specific questions, teaching practical and convenient strategies, and giving real ACT tests with questions that were actually used, all to give me a better understanding of what the ACT will really be like. Besides, none of these practices to prepare for the ACT were taught in my school classes. I’d recommend these courses to anyone, whether you think you’ll do great or not."
"Mrs. Bartel teaches strategies that make students successful. I am thankful for her patience and flexibility as she coached me in English, Reading, and Science. She is a hero."
"Mrs. Bartel’s ACT academic coaching has helped prepare me greatly for the ACT. I came in with little knowledge as to how the ACT was run and formatted but her tips and strategies helped clear that all up for me. Learning the strategies for English, reading, and science have also strengthened my overall knowledge of the topics which has raised my confidence for taking the ACT. I would recommend these classes to anyone who has doubts or questions surrounding the ACT because Mrs. Bartel clarifies them and helps develop you for such an important test."
"This class helped me learn different strategies and shortcuts that helped me get to the answer really quickly and effectively. I am able to pick out the strategies I need to know different types of questions on the ACT. This class definitely gave me a lot of insight into what the ACT will look like and how I can do my best. I feel much more prepared for the ACT than before and I think this class helped me not get so stressed and anxious when looking at the questions. My scores are projected into the 30's, and I am excited to test!"
"In person sessions helped me to efficiently answer questions with useful strategies. My friends even asked me what I’ve been learning. My scores from even taking practice tests have improved from the spring. I feel more comfortable and confident taking these tests. The strategies we used helped with reducing the amount of time it takes me to take a session. The rules like English with punctuation and choosing the most concise answer, repetition helped me engrave it in my head."
"The teaching method is very effective in this class. I liked that we actually got to do the ACT tests and learned why certain answers were wrong in addition to what was actually right. I liked working with Mrs. Bartel because she is very helpful. It’s important to know that the homework and extra work helps you a lot. The coaching is worth the extra time and money because it prepares you very well."
If you have been looking for support in the college application process, check out Robin's website. She is an amazing resource for our students in Lake Country.
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From organizing campus visits to tracking essential milestones and finding scholarships, these tools will help simplify planning and set your student up for success.
Perfect for parents looking to support their college-bound students with ease and confidence!
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