THE ACT HAS CHANGED. YOUR PREP SHOULD TOO.

Elite ACT Academy

Big Goals. Busy Schedules. Smarter Preparation.

Preparing for the ACT should not mean adding endless assignments to an already demanding schedule.

CarpeDiem Academics combines expert teaching, supervised practice, immediate feedback, and individual attention in live groups of no more than five students. Designed with student-athletes in mind, and open to all motivated high school students.

Explore the Academies

10 weeks

20 live instructional hours

Maximum 5 students per cohort

English, Math & Reading

Two Ways to Prepare. One Commitment to Excellence.

In-person · Yorkville / Greater Chicago Suburbs

$2,495 Program tuition

Tuesdays beginning January 2027

In Person with Tika

Learn directly from CarpeDiem Academics founder Tika Haake, a former NCAA Division I gymnast and experienced ACT instructor. In this intimate classroom, students receive real-time explanations, guided timed practice, and feedback on the reasoning behind every correction.

Includes:

10 weekly meetings, 2 hours each (20 hours total)
Maximum five students
Founder-led instruction with Tika
CDA-developed curriculum, baseline assessment, and progress monitoring
Supervised practice and targeted between-session work

Live online · Available nationwide

$1,995 Program tuition

Live, interactive instruction

Live Online with a CDA Instructor

The CDA teaching approach from wherever your student lives. A qualified CDA lead instructor teaches a small, live class with interactive explanations, guided practice, targeted assignments, and individual progress monitoring. This is not a prerecorded course.

Includes:

10 weekly meetings, 2 hours each (20 hours total)
Maximum five students
CDA-developed curriculum and assessments
Timed practice, immediate corrections, and personalized feedback
Live online cohort schedule and instructor to be confirmed

Why CDA?

Your Student Doesn’t Need More Homework. They Need Better Preparation.

Between classes, sports, competitions, extracurricular activities, and family commitments, students need preparation that respects their time. Our Academy emphasizes learning concepts, practicing with an instructor, understanding mistakes, and building stronger test-taking habits-rather than assigning pages of work without guidance.

Expert instruction: Concepts and strategies explained clearly

Supervised practice: Targeted exercises and timed questions

Immediate feedback: Mistakes become opportunities to learn

Personalized attention: no more than five students per group

Accountability: consistent instruction and progress tracking

How It Works

Ten Weeks. Twenty Hours. A Purposeful Plan.

01

ASSESS

Establish starting strengths and priority skill gaps.

02

TEACH

Build tested concepts and efficient strategies.

03

PRACTICE

Work through targeted and timed questions with guidance.

04

CORRECT

Understand why an answer is right or wrong.

05

TRACK

Monitor progress and revisit skills needing attention.

Learn it. Practice it. Understand it.

Enhanced ACT

Preparation That Reflects Today’s ACT

English

Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, organization, and clarity.

Math

Algebra, geometry, functions, statistics, and mathematical reasoning.

Reading

Comprehension, inference, interpretation, evidence, and pacing.

On the enhanced national ACT, Science and Writing are optional, and Science does not contribute to the Composite score.

Illinois school-day ACT testing includes Science and Writing. Our core Academy emphasizes English, Math, and Reading; families preparing for a school-day administration can ask us about supplementary Science and Writing support. We will clarify the scope of that support before enrollment.

SAT and PSAT/NMSQT PREPRATION

Preparing for the SAT or PSAT/NMSQT?

Different Tests. One Commitment to Exceptional Preparation.

Elite ACT Academy is our signature small-group test-preparation program. CarpeDiem Academics also welcomes inquiries from families seeking individualized preparation for the digital SAT and PSAT/NMSQT. We help students evaluate their goals, review available score information, and identify the skills and strategies that deserve attention.

Digital SAT

Reading and Writing, Math, and test-specific strategy

PSAT/NMSQT

Targeted preparation for students exploring National Merit recognition

Individual Prepration

Individual score review, practice priorities, and personalized planning

Family Guidance

Guidance for families deciding which test to prioritize

Ask About SAT / PSAT Preparation

Meet the Founder

Built by an Educator Who Understands School, Sport, and Life

Tika Haake founded CarpeDiem Academics to help students balance ambitious academic goals with athletics and personal growth. A former NCAA Division I gymnast with a background in biomedical engineering and more than a decade of ACT teaching experience, she brings a practical, encouraging approach to test preparation. Tika personally leads the in-person Academy and establishes the instructional framework used by CDA instructors.

Academic. Sport. Life.

Testimonials

What Families Are Saying

Wendy Gaston

CDA Student

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had a wonderful experience working with Tika. She provided excellent support with time management, organization, and staying on track with college coursework. Her guidance, encouragement, and accountability helped make a challenging semester much more manageable. Highly recommend!

Dylan Doogs

CDA Student

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I had a really good experience with this ACT prep program. Tika explained everything clearly and gave helpful strategies that made the test feel a lot less complicated. The practice tests and personalized feedback helped me improve my scores and understand what I needed to work on. I felt more prepared going into the act on subjects I struggled with. She also helped me with my academic decisions and trying to find a degree that best fits me.

Melanie Imbronjev

CDA Student

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ms. Tika has helped me not only increase my ACT score but my algebra grade. She doesn’t just care about getting you through the ACT, but she wants to see you excel overall in your academics. I never dread coming to this class and she makes it fit around your schedule. This class has help me so much, definitely consider this program.

Steven Fredericks

CDA Parent

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tika is an exceptional tutor. She is able to work with and maximize the personality differences in my children. She not only has expanded their knowledge academically but has also increased their confidence and desire to learn. My children are thriving in the supportive and caring tutoring environment Tika provides.

Small Classes. Limited Seats.

Feature	In Person with Tika	Live Online
Tuition	$2,495	$1,995
Duration	10 weeks	10 weeks
Instruction	20 live hours	20 live hours
Maximum students	5	5
Instructor	Tika Haake	CDA lead instructor
Location	Yorkville area	Nationwide
Schedule	Tuesdays; details pending	To be confirmed

January 2027 enrollment inquiries are open. Exact dates, times, venue, instructor assignments, minimum enrollment, payment options, and refund terms will be confirmed before accepting tuition.

Tell Us About Your Student

Share a few details below, and our team will help you find the right

academic support and test preparation path.

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this only for student-athletes?

No. We specialize in the demands facing student-athletes but welcome all motivated high school students.

Are online classes prerecorded?

No. Our online Academy is taught live and interactively by a CDA instructor.

How much homework is required?

Some targeted practice may be assigned, but a substantial portion of learning and correction takes place during scheduled sessions.

Does Tika teach both Academies?

Tika personally teaches the in-person Academy. A qualified CDA lead instructor teaches the online cohort using CDA’s curriculum.

Does the Academy cover Science and Writing?

The core 20-hour curriculum focuses on English, Math, and Reading. Illinois school-day ACT testing includes Science and Writing; contact us about supplementary preparation options.