With SAT and ACT preparation options ranging from large national companies to automated platforms and independent online tutors, parents often struggle to determine what a student will actually experience. Michael Romano, founder of Mr. Test Prep, says families should ask a more practical set of questions before committing to a program.
Based in Palo Alto and coaching students online nationwide, Romano has worked with more than 4,000 students since 1997. A Duke University graduate who majored in Psychology and minored in Music, he has spent nearly three decades developing an approach designed around both sides of test-day performance: how students execute the test and the state they bring to that execution.
“The best way to evaluate a tutor isn’t to listen to a sales pitch,” Romano said. “It’s to see how that person works with your student.”
He recommends that families ask seven questions. First, who will actually teach the student, and what is that person’s experience? Parents should know whether the person they speak with will teach the sessions or whether the student will be assigned to someone else. Reviews may reflect a company’s overall track record, not the individual tutor. At Mr. Test Prep, Romano personally coaches every student.
Second, does a diagnostic come before the preparation plan? Romano looks at how a student works through the test: accuracy, pacing, question patterns, decision-making and where performance breaks down. Mr. Test Prep begins with a free two-hour trial session built around diagnostic work.
Third, how will the tutor decide whether the student should take the SAT or ACT? Romano believes the answer requires more than comparing scores. The more important question is what produced those scores and which problems are most realistic to improve. A student may initially score better on one test while revealing a pacing limitation that will be difficult to overcome; on the other test, the initial score may be lower, but the weaknesses may be more responsive to instruction.
Fourth, what is the financial commitment, and what exactly does any guarantee require? Families should understand the terms behind a score guarantee, including whether it depends on completing extensive homework. Mr. Test Prep takes a different approach: families pay one session at a time, and Romano establishes a cap on the number of paid sessions based on the student’s starting point, desired score outcome and testing plan. If the student achieves the desired score before reaching that cap, the preparation ends and the family never pays for the remaining sessions. If the student reaches the cap and still needs additional coaching, additional sessions continue at no additional charge.
Fifth, what happens between sessions? Romano has maintained a no-homework philosophy for years. Students are free to practice independently, but no test-prep homework is required. Instead, Romano concentrates preparation inside the coaching sessions, where he can observe how students approach questions, manage time, respond to difficulty and make decisions in real time.
Sixth, how do you prepare students for performance under pressure? Knowing the material is only part of performing well. The Mr. Test Prep Method™ provides tactics and frameworks students use to navigate the test itself, while A-Game Access™ addresses the state they bring to that execution. Together, the goal is to help students access and use more of what they know when performance counts.
Seventh, can my student try the program before we commit? Mr. Test Prep offers a free two-hour trial session to families nationwide. The student works through diagnostic material while Romano checks in periodically, gets a firsthand look at how the student approaches the tests and, when useful, offers feedback. A follow-up Zoom meeting with the student and parent reviews what the diagnostic revealed, discusses whether the SAT, ACT or both make sense, considers testing dates and preparation frequency, establishes target scores and outlines a recommended preparation plan. A written proposal follows by email.
“Parents shouldn’t have to make a large commitment just to find out whether the relationship works,” Romano said. “Let the student experience the process first. Then everyone can make a much more informed decision.”
Mr. Test Prep has been an educational consultant for over 26 years. One of his strategies is to increase his student’s self-confidence thereby Elevating More Than A Score!
