As families navigate an increasingly crowded market for SAT and ACT preparation, Michael Romano, founder of Mr. Test Prep, argues that the most important factor is often overlooked: the quality and fit of the individual tutor. With options ranging from large national companies to automated platforms and independent online tutors, Romano believes parents need a more practical framework for evaluating providers. Based in Palo Alto and coaching students online nationwide, Romano has worked with more than 4,000 students since 1997. A Duke University graduate with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Music, he has spent nearly three decades developing an approach that addresses both test-taking tactics and the mental state students bring to test day.
Romano recommends that families ask seven questions before committing to any program. First, parents should confirm who will actually teach their student and what that person's experience is. At Mr. Test Prep, Romano personally coaches every student, so his nearly 30 years of experience and work with over 4,000 students are the experience families receive. Second, a diagnostic should come before any 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 rather than a predetermined curriculum.
Third, deciding between the SAT and ACT requires more than comparing scores. Romano says 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 is difficult to overcome; on the other test, the initial score may be lower, but the weaknesses may be more responsive to instruction. The recommendation should come from watching the student work under timed conditions.
Fourth, families should understand the financial commitment and any guarantee terms. If a provider offers a score guarantee, parents should ask what conditions must be satisfied, such as 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, preparation ends and the family never pays for the remaining sessions. If the student reaches the cap and still needs additional coaching to pursue the agreed-upon score goals, additional sessions continue at no additional charge. Because Mr. Test Prep does not assign required test-prep homework, that arrangement is not dependent on a student completing an extensive outside-work program.
Fifth, Romano maintains a no-homework philosophy. Students are always 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, preparing for performance under pressure is essential. The Mr. Test Prep Method™ provides tactics and frameworks for navigating the test itself, while A-Game Access™ addresses the state students bring to that execution. Together, the goal is to help students access and use more of what they know when performance counts.
Seventh, families should ask whether their student can try the program before committing. Mr. Test Prep offers a free two-hour trial session nationwide. The student works through diagnostic material while Romano checks in periodically, gets a firsthand look at how the student approaches the tests, and 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."
For more information, visit Mr. Test Prep. Mr. Test Prep has been an educational consultant for over 26 years, with a strategy to increase students' self-confidence, thereby elevating more than a score.
