Test Prep Expert Shares 7 Questions Parents Should Ask Before Hiring a Tutor

As families across the country navigate an increasingly crowded test-preparation market, Michael Romano, founder of Mr. Test Prep, is urging parents to look beyond sales pitches and automated platforms. Based in Palo Alto and coaching students online nationwide, Romano has worked with more than 4,000 students since 1997. The Duke University graduate, who majored in Psychology and minored in Music, has spent nearly three decades developing an approach that addresses both how students execute the test and the mental 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."

To help families make informed decisions, Romano recommends asking seven key questions before committing to any SAT or ACT program. These include: who will actually teach the student and what is their experience; whether a diagnostic precedes the preparation plan; how the choice between the SAT and ACT will be made; what the financial commitment and any guarantee terms entail; what happens between sessions; how the program prepares students for performance under pressure; and whether the student can try the program before committing. Mr. Test Prep differentiates itself by having Romano personally coach every student, beginning with a free two-hour trial session focused on diagnostic work. Families pay one session at a time, and Romano establishes a session cap based on the student's starting point and desired score. If the student achieves the target score before reaching that cap, preparation ends and the family pays nothing for remaining sessions. If the student reaches the cap and still needs coaching, additional sessions continue at no extra charge. The program also maintains a no-homework philosophy, concentrating preparation inside coaching sessions. Romano's method combines The Mr. Test Prep Method™, which provides tactics and frameworks for navigating the test, with A-Game Access™, which addresses the mental state students bring to test day. "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."