Online only tutoring. My understanding is that Mr. Test Prep used to be great when he had kids come to his home. Now it is entirely online. My son (who actually does well with online learning) did the trial and felt he could do better on his own. I eventually got someone who did in person tutoring. In my experience, a lot of these online classes and tutors benefit the tutor but not the students. If you have a student who does well with online teaching, maybe this is okay. But if you want to pay big money, make sure you get results. For our family, the benefit of taking the SAT over and over was good. But not having any human interaction with the tutor or peers was not good. My son eventually scored a 1570 but with an in person tutor and taking the SAT five times. read more

It was divine appointment that we found Mr. Test Prep. I almost never use Yelp anymore to search for anything (sorry, yelp!) but I came on here just to see if there was any SAT prep service that could help my son. He had already sat for the SAT in his 10th grade, and had a decent 1550 score, but we wanted to see if he could improve it. Mr. Test Prep's approach and clear value proposition really stood out to me in the sea of the multitude of tutors and SAT prep services. We gave it a try, our son Ethan loved Michael's style, and format, and it was a good fit for our family's needs all around. Ethan sat for the SAT again in a few months of working with Michael, and his score was perfect. Of course, everyone's mileage may vary. For us , it was a match made in heaven :) Thanks, Michael read more

My husband and I are grateful to Michael Romano for his help in the SAT test prep process. We highly recommend Michael with no hesitation! Michael took a highly cumbersome and stressful SAT prep process and gave my son and daughter the tools they needed to excel -- both looked forward to Michael's test prep sessions! Michael has a very special process in working with students to reduce the anxiety and stress associated with the SAT and ACT tests. His style of instruction really worked well for my son and daughter during the testing period. They were able to perform at their best level. Michael made the process super fun and helped to fuel their motivation to do their best. He was always available for a phone call if we had any questions, and we appreciate his willingness to help. We are so happy to have found Michael. Previously, we went to another test prep provider who said there was no difference in taking the SAT or ACT. She once had my daughter in tears based on her pushy approach. After the first session, Michael knew the SAT was a better choice for them. Choosing the SAT had a very significant impact on their score. Thank you, Michael for being a great teacher and mentor! Our only regret is that we wish we found Michael sooner. My husband and I give him our highest recommendation! read more

My older brother and I are extremely grateful for Mr. Romano, as he genuinely wishes to establish an understanding of what will work best for you as a student while also connecting with you as an individual. With his help and advice, I was able to improve my score and grow more confident in taking the SAT as well as any other tests in school. I struggled the most with the reading section so his guidance heavily focused on improving my approach and interpretation of the text. In the very beginning, I was unsure of how beneficial meditation could be--I would wonder why Mr. Romano would push us to attend his meditation sessions. But with each session, I grew to understand how great it is on your mindset and perspective. It enabled me to approach stressful situations with a relaxed and clear state of mind, and to view things through a positive lens. Not only did he teach us what we needed to know for the SATs, but he also taught us lessons that carry over into our careers and future. Aside from being a wonderful teacher and mentor, Mr. Romano has become a life-long friend and inspiration to both my family and I :) Emma Nguyen UC Santa Barbara Class of 2027 read more

Mr. TestPrep offers amazing tutoring skills, and provides a safe and great place to study and explore college options. Before going to him, I had never studied for SAT or ACT, neither did I know about my options for the test. Mr. TestPrep gave insight to me about each test and my options for what I might do best in to take. Once we decided the test he personally sought to it that I improve upon the skills I needed to do the best I could. I have many friends who are seeking to take standardized tests soon and I have recommended each of them to seek the help of Mr. TestPrep because of how great of an experience I had with him. Instead of looking back at the SAT and having it be a test that I had to take, I look back and thank CollegeBoard that it was created because I was fortunate to meet such a kind teacher in a welcoming environment. Thank you Michael! read more

Michael's methodology is unlike any other tutor I've worked with before, and the results I got with him were unmatchable. The group setting allowed for me to go back and forth between working on my own just like a testing setting AND breaking down my sections while they're fresh in my mind. While many tutors believe in using homework as a studying tool, whenever I would attend my next session I couldn't remember why I chose the answers I did. By confining my work to my sessions with him, I was able to evaluate my thought process for each answer and correct my mistakes MUCH more efficiently. Rather than most tutor's standard lesson plan (even for one on one sessions), Michael tailors each session to what that individual student needs. My best sections were tested less frequently, and more time was spent on the sections I struggled with. Michael understands the interplay between testing and his student's mindset. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I have had extreme difficulty performing well on exams even when I know the material front to back. After two meditation sessions, I meditated every morning and night about a week preceding each of my SAT exams (as well as actually during my SAT) and I felt less anxious, more at ease and extremely more confident. What it boils down to is Michael truly understands his students, and creates a relationship and bond with them like NO other tutor. He creates a completely safe space where mistakes aren't scrutinized, they're looked at as a place to improve. I improved my SAT score by about 350, but, beyond that, I can look back at my sessions with him and only have positive memories. Going to Michael was one of the best decisions I made. I genuinely looked forward to my sessions with him, and no other tutor can match that. read more

Mr. Test Prep, Michael Romano, was not only a key factor to my son's SAT experience and result, but was also very inspirational and encouraging to my son's personal goals for applying to The U. S. Naval Academy. Michael's guidance and support gave my son strategies to get the best result for his SAT score. Once he showed my son that he was in "striking distance" of a stronger score, my son had the confidence to go after it. Sessions were well organized, and Michael was super responsive day to day and helpful with any recommendations we were interested in. Testing is one aspect of your child's college prep, and a personal and focused mentor is invaluable. My son is in Annapolis right now in part because of the collaborative work and academic support he got from Mr. Test Prep. read more

If you're a student or parent looking for a SAT/ACT tutor, Michael (aka Mr. Test Prep) is the real deal! He's one of the best in the business and will help you get you to where you want to be, whether that is to improve 300 points or to go from the 90% to 99%. AND get this, you will have fun while working with him / preparing for the SAT/ACT. Wait.... how is this possible? How can studying for the exam be remotely fun? First of all, tutoring happens in his home which is a very relaxed environment with a beautiful garden. Then you're there with other students so you can make some friends. But the main reason is because of Mr. Test Prep himself. He has a rare talent of being able to get along with anyone and make complicated topics on the SAT/ACT look easy. Seriously, this guy is so cool, engaging, chill, and funny. He will teach you how to approach problems, the correct mindset to take on, and tips/tricks. Probably the best attribute about him is he truly cares about his students and will always use positivity to build his students up so they start to believe in themselves. I had a wonderful experience with Mr. Test Prep and I'm certain you will as well! read more

When you imagine a test prep tutor, what kind of person do you think of? I'm the type of person who never worked well with adults who tried to push me or made me feel stupid, and that's why I was really reluctant to try SAT prep. But Michael Romano surprised me by defying the stereotype of the traditional harsh, nitpicky tutor time and time again. He never forces students to study or do homework assignments, and because he did not, I felt genuinely inspired to put in the effort on my own behalf. Rather than someone else driving my progress, I felt as though I held the reigns to my own improvement on the SAT. I won't talk about how Michael comes up with neat strategies for the trickiest of math and reading problems, how he's an endlessly patient teacher, or how he made every seemingly impossible question look easy and conquerable. He did all of these things. But I think what truly makes Michael special is the effort he puts into each relationship with his students. He's always positive, he always makes you feel that you are smart and capable of accomplishing things. As a high school student, it's pretty common to get extremely stressed out about standardized testing. But "stressed" is the last word I would ever use to describe Michael's personality. Stress is contagious, and Michael knows this, so his test prep environment is calming and peaceful. He never gets upset with you for making mistakes; he's never disappointed as long as you put in the effort. To me, this made all the difference in both my score and my mentality towards life. read more

My daughter has had pretty bad test anxiety in the past. In her sophomore year of high school I started looking at SAT test prep options. There are many here in Fremont - they are basically factories where they make students take tests over and over for a two week period in rooms filled with dozens of kids. I knew this wasn't going to work for my daughter. That is when I heard about Michael. Michael has a method that worked perfectly for my daughter. It was over a longer period of time which helped her build her test taking skills and confidence. He taught her meditation techniques that not only helped with her SAT but with all testing. In that period of time, my daughter's SAT score went up 300 points. My daughter was accepted to 9 of the 14 schools she applied to including her #1 choice. We are so grateful for Michael. If you are a parent like me with a child who needs more holistic work, it is worth driving over the bridge (or any distance) to work with him. Tell him I sent you! read more

Sometimes it feels like Mr. Test Prep performs a magic trick. Not in like a deceptive way, in a good way. You come to study for only two hours each week and during that time you complete practice tests. Here's the trick: he tells you to pick a card, reviews with you what you got wrong on practice tests, shuffles the deck, tells you that you have no homework other than to do yoga at some point during the week, says alacazam, and then you get a ridiculously high score on whatever test you want. You'll sit there, a computer in front of you telling you that you did better than 97% of Americans or something crazy, and you'll say, "b...but I still have hair. I didn't need to pull my hair out". Mr. Romano is by no means a magician. He doesn't have a long white beard and a staff with a crystal ball on the top. He doesn't wear a blue robe or a funny hat (except for his Duke cap, as a Tar Heel in spirit I find that to be pretty weird lookin'). He's just really good at his job. He knows the material back to front. He's gifted at making taking a tough test and doing well second nature to his students. He never makes you feel stupid for missing something, not understanding what he's telling you, or underperforming. He ingrains a mamba, next play mentality into his students that he no doubt acquired as a Lakers fan. He's relatable, easy to talk to, and has a pretty good sense of humor. All in all, he's a fantastic educator. If you like working harder than you have to and talking to people with no personality, I wish you luck. If you change your mind, he'll take ya. read more

Michael's deep expertise and his unique approach to the SAT make him stand out amongst all the options. The way he works is a fit for so many kids and makes preparing for the SAT much less painful. And he gets results. Our son's scores made all sorts of schools possible and he ended up being admitted to his top choice, Middlebury, in the early decision round. We feel lucky that we found Michael and recommend him very highly. read more

Mr. Test Prep, Michael Romano, describes himself as making a "genuine connection with each student". That's truly what makes him special. He really 'gets' his students. He's so cool he even hit the basketball court with my student and friends! This chemistry enabled Michael to be both encouraging and direct with my student, like the best kind of coach. Michael set high but achievable goals, and nudged my student forward when he saw more potential. We appreciated that Michael had our student try both the SAT and ACT, and actually take both the SAT and ACT exams. Michael has been doing this long enough to have a data centered approach as to why he has students try both tests; he knows what he's doing. Ultimately, my student was accepted to his dream school. Thanks Mr. Test Prep! read more

MR. TEST PREP Michael Romano tutored both of my daughters. We are all very happy with the results. The oldest just graduated from Cal Poly, and I am sure Michael's help on her test scores had a great deal to do with her acceptance. This was the most desired school on her list, and it has been a great college experience for her. Her SAT scores increased from 1790 to 1940 (old scoring method). Given the schools to which she was applying, my oldest daughter focused primarily on the SAT, following Michael's advice. My youngest daughter will be attending Northeastern University in Boston this fall. Under Michael's tutorage, her Composite ACT score increased from 32 to 34. Her SAT score (new scoring method) increased from 1390 to 1470, including her reading, which increased from 670 to 750. The feedback from Desiree, recent graduate from Cal Poly, is that Michael helped build her confidence in general, and of course with respect to the SAT test. She went into the test feeling confident and focused. The advice and test taking strategies that he provided worked well during the exam. She also commented that Michael was very encouraging and respectful, and she always felt that she could ask him any question. He was very patient and allowed her to advance at her own pace, ensuring that she was understanding as she progressed. The feedback from Felicity, new attendee at Northeastern University, was similar in that Michael built her confidence and increased her comfort level for exam day. Felicity was looking to improve an already excellent Composite ACT score of 32, as she wanted to get every advantage in her college applications. Getting to a 34 score was a significant jump, and combined with her grades, these test scores likely helped Felicity to receive significant scholarship funds at entrance. Felicity found Michael's approach organized and easy to follow. The practice tests and feedback were an important part of the process and helped Felicity improve her scores. Michael also showed a lot of flexibility in scheduling - working with Desiree and Felicity around their school and athletic commitments, and ensuring they were able to get enough regular tutoring that they could build upon. Michael also helped advise Felicity on test submission strategies (i.e., the SAT Subject Tests) during the final admission process, and was available on a moments' notice during some very time-sensitive decision making that Felicity needed to make. Overall, the combination of Michael's knowledge, tutoring effectiveness, ability to improve confidence, encouragement, flexibility, and overall demeanor made for very rewarding results for both of my daughters. We would strongly recommend Michael to students at any current levels of testing expertise - he can make a big difference whatever your current starting point. read more

Looked at all the larger test prep organizations but wasn't impressed. Michael's approach is personal and positive. Helped our son both with ACT and with AP exams in terms of speed and accuracy (test taking strategy). His prices are not cheap, but totally worth it. Planning on using him for kid #2 for sure. Thank you Michael! read more

Mr. Test Prep's unique approach and amazing personality helped more than just increased my son's SAT score by 400+ points, he became a mentor and a friend to him. Jordan always looked forward to his sessions with Mr. Test Prep, even though it was in the early Saturday mornings. It was during their one-on-one discussions, where Mr. Test Prep offered his invaluable professional and personal advice/insights, that he started to really understand the problems so his test scores went up and his confidence grew. Mr. Test Prep's influence has been more than positive in every way...such as increasing his drive to do better at school and to aim higher in life. You cannot put a price on Mr. Test Prep. He is a passionate, fun, and great human being and teacher, who goes above and beyond for his students. My friends' children also had amazing experience with Mr. Test Prep. My daughter, a sophomore, is just getting started with Mr. Test Prep. I wish every student has the fortunate opportunity to work with Mr. Test Prep, it's a life changer for them, as well as a welcoming and refreshing ally to the parents. read more

WARNING: Be prepared to sink $3000 into tutoring with Michael Romano. While Michael Romano may be able to help some students that are struggling with college test preparation, don't expect this primarily group practice setting to boost your student from an already excellent SAT/ ACT (i.e. ~95th percentile) to an elite score (99th percentile), as he confidently stated when we first discussed my particular student. When my student had completed just over half of Romano's "recommended schedule" (7 of the 12-2 hour sessions @ $250/ session), he took the actual ACT/ SAT tests. Even though Romano's practice tests indicated significant improvement, there was no inkling of improvement in total score, whatsoever. With that, we decided not to sink the additional $1250 with Romano. By the way, during the post mortem with Romano, he reemphasized that consistency comes with repetition. In fact, he is willing to do extra sessions at no additional charge. Frankly, these mostly self study sessions are no skin off his back. In a typical 2-hour session, my student experienced that you can expect about 10 minutes of one-on-one help from him. That translates into about $1500 per hour for his one-on-one work with your student. In summary, Romano does an excellent sales job with both students and parents alike, but realize that he's not a good fit for every student. So, unless you have an extra $3000+ burning a hole in your pocket, buyer beware. read more

I had a fantastic experience preparing for the SAT with Mike. I went from initial scores in the low 1300s to a 1440 on my official test. ( the test was out of 1600 back then) That score really stood out in my college application, and I got into USC in a very competitive year. I actually looked forward to our sessions every week. He had a way of making them tailor fit to my personality and a lot of fun. He not only gave me all the tools I needed to ace the material confidently, but he took the time and interest to prepare me for life in college and beyond with great stories and advice. When I teach music to students now I often find myself drawing upon Mike's approach in order to create a similar kind of environment for my students. read more

Michael Romano is a top-notch SAT tutor. Not only did he help me reach my SAT and SAT II test score goals, but he also made studying fun! My sessions usually involved taking practice tests, making vocabulary SAT scores, and one-on-one chats with Michael to go over my answers and to learn test-taking strategies. In the early stages of preparing for the SAT I test I struggled to finish each section within the time limits. However, Michael's unique tips and encouragement helped me learn to beat the clock. By the time I took the SAT I was able to finish each section with extra time and I even achieved the high SAT scores necessary to get into my first choice college! Michael maintains a laid back, stress-free environment that prepares students to conquer the SAT anxiety-free. I would recommend Michael to any student preparing to take the SAT or ACT tests. read more

When I first started working with Mr. Test Prep, my SAT scores were quite low. These low scores gave me very little confidence in my ability to improve. I was overwhelmed with the thought of trying to achieve a 1450+ score but Mr. Test Prep was there to raise my confidence and helped me stay positive throughout my entire SAT process. During our sessions, Mr. Test Prep would work with me, focusing more on my weaknesses such as grammar/writing, in order to really get the highest score I could possible. On top of that, there would be weekly meditations that helped relieve my anxiety and stress, allowing me to perform at my highest level. By the time I took my first test, I had improved by over 400+ points in my SAT score. Mr. Test Prep is more than just what his "business" name portrays. He's a great mentor and friend, whose teachings and lessons will stick with me into my future endeavors. There was a quote that Mr. Test Prep would always say to me when I would meet him, "The man, the myth, the legend." Yes indeed, Mr. Test Prep is quite the legend himself. read more

With all the positive 5 star reviews online, it is hard to be the one that posts a review of less than 5 stars. But, this is the type of review I wish existed when I was searching for a test prep tutor. Actually, had I gone back far enough I would've found a review from several years ago that is not too dissimilar from our experience. Please note that this is our personal experience and the experience of others may vary. Found Mr. Test Prep through Yelp. It's hard not to take notice when there are 50+ reviews that are 5 stars. The sessions are organized in 2 hour segments with up to 6 students per session. For the majority of that time, students work independently through a practice test book and one by one spend a total of approximately 20 minutes (out of the 2 hour sessions) one on one with Michael. This prep format was definitely different than what we were accustomed to but we thought it must work judging by the overwhelmingly positive reviews. For us, 20 minutes of individualized attention does not seem like enough, especially for the price we paid. Perhaps the practice test the students do during the session can be done as homework at home. I am not sure why we have to pay for the student to work alone during the session. It's not cheap. I am not sure how much material can be covered in the 20 minutes per session. We will say that Michael is very positive and optimistic which is fantastic and makes the kids feel confident when approaching the test. Unfortunately for us, this prep experience only translated into minimal improvement and in our opinion not worth the money we spent. read more

I wasn't so sure how to feel about my upcoming SAT. I had heard how taxing of a test it was, but Michael helped me out tremendously. He always had great tips for me and helped break down problems for me. He has a sort of a special teaching method that worked great for me and I benefited greatly from it. A great guy whose passionate about helping students do well, and I recommend him immensely! read more

I have to thank the OG Mr.TP for all the encouragement he has given me and making me actually bust my butt off for the SAT and actually trying to get into a 4 year college because I found myself in a situation where I wasn't even going to take the SAT and just go to community college because I was so done with high school. We started in the first semester of my senior year and I thought I had no other options but community college, not that there is anything wrong with that, but he completely changed my mindset on things and has always given me the best advice and I really do appreciate his help because he showed me that it was not too late to try and that I still had a chance to be a first generation college student in my family. I did not have the best grades or GPA but he still kept me motivated to work hard. We set a score goal together and when I took the test, It turned out that I met my goal and I was so shook because we had come a long way and actually did it. No one has ever made me work so hard when it comes to school and actually enjoy it because it showed my true potential and he made it a super fun and funny environment. If i had any problems, Mr.TP was the man to go to. I was so worried about not getting accepted into any colleges, but this guy had me sit next to him, he took out his laptop, and he showed me schools that I had a higher chance of getting into. I had no idea what I was doing but he made my life so much easier after grinding for months. Not only did he help me with my SAT, he helped me with my entire college process. I have so much respect for Michael Romano and I'm for sure going to stop by every now and then to say what's up to the man. read more

Mr. Test Prep - Test Preparation Near Me - Palo Alto, California

My son loves to work with Afficient. He did well job on Math and English. I do recommend highly.

Mr. Test Prep is the BOMB! For any teenager looking for a way to boost test scores, don't hesitate, this is your guy! I cannot believe I am saying this, but I actually enjoyed going to test prep because Mr. Romano was funny, engaging, and always pushed me to be my best. The format of the sessions was really unique and allowed me to focus on what needed work. I legit wish that Mr. Test Prep was my teacher for all my classes at school. Happy to say that my solid score helped me get into UC Berkeley, go bears!! read more

My daughter started at Mr. Test Prep the summer before her Junior year . I honestly thought she would dread it considering we had to drive to Palo Alto from San Jose every Saturday morning . Surprisingly, she would actually look forward to it--and rarely missed a session. Michael Romano runs his center out of his home and has the whole system organized extremely well. Each session is 2 hours long. After his first evaluation , he determines what level your student is at and then discusses what your goals are and what it will take to achieve them. I am happy to say that after her first SAT our daughter actually exceeded our goals. I am certain that this is especially attributed to the confidence he gave her. The morning of her SAT she was not nervous whatsoever and felt completely prepared- most impressive was how great she felt about it after the test- and her scores reflected that confidence!!! We are so happy we found Michael Romano and our son will be starting with Mr. test Prep next month. I almost want to keep this our secret but would hate to be so selfish ;) read more

My name is Landon Yamaoka and I was fortunate enough to have found Mike through my parents friends. Not sure how it came to be but I know that his help definitely got me through the SAT. I have major learning disabilities, and studying and focusing on subjects that can be left to interpretation are not strong subjects for myself. (chem, bio, geometry, algebra 2, english) Mike was very patient with me and would push me just enough to keep me learning and motivated but not to the point where i would just want to give up. I graduated from Los Altos High School in 2000, and attended the University of Arizona and graduated from a top Anthropology school in 2005. (I maybe wrong but it might have been ranked 5th in the nation) Mike was a great person to take his time to assist a student with major learning deficiencies, and not just letting me do what I wanted which would have been to NOT study. Thanks to his help I have found a career path and actually I have helped teach low to high risk youth life skills, and now help developmentally disabled adults with life skills. Thanks for doing what you do Mike! Landon Yamaoka read more

Many people are good at what they do, less are great and then there are those rare few who were born to do what they do; Michael Romano was born to help students. His enigmatic, vibrant and intellectual personality is apparent from the moment you walk in to his charming studio, which like him, exudes positivity and comfort. I discovered Michael's SAT Prep last summer as I continuously banged my head on my desk while drowning in a pile of SAT books filled with questions that made no sense to me. I never thought myself capable of exceling on standardized tests or of even attending a top university but upon meeting Michael my whole life changed. Michael is so much more than a tutor, he's an inspiration, an unsung hero, a friend who's there to bring out the best in you, to introduce you to your uncapped potential, which you were so blindly unaware of. It is with no exaggeration that I can say that each and every one of the sessions that I attended with Michael were both a blend of academic triumph and hysterical laughter, for he is the only person that can make any SAT problem into the funniest joke you've ever heard. With time, his inspirational jargon will resonate with you wherever you go, to the point that "Dazzle me, don't frazzle me" will become a common melody in your ear. In the short time I've known Michael, I've grown equally as a person as I have as an SAT test taker and I owe him much more than just a thank you for helping increase my score by 300 points! I owe him my sincerest and most genuine gratitude for giving me a future, for encouraging the highest of excellence and for proving to me as well as every single student that has ever walked through his doors, that absolutely anything is possible if one is willing to work hard enough for it. Despite my effort this review still doesn't even come close to the magic, the music, the jokes, the charisma of the greatest tutor you'll ever meet. Choosing to work with Michael Romano was the best decision I've ever made and I can guarantee that it will be yours too. So to all reading this, I wish you good luck with your academic endeavors and to Michael, I applaud you on all you have done for me and every other student you've ever met. You truly are one of a kind : ) Maria Ayala, UCLA' 18 read more

As a parent, it's very hard to convince your child to start taking additional classes after their regular school schedule to prepare for their SATs. The moment I met Michael, I realized that it was not going to be an issue at all. He has a different approach to working with kids and getting them to really enjoy studying and going to his classroom. It's not the typical structure that makes learning boring for kids. He has set-up a fun, educational, and open environment for kids to feel very comfortable and confident. More importantly, it makes kids want to be there to learn. It's not all just fun. Michael has set-up a very structured and detailed plan to increase those test scores. I highly recommend Mr. Test Prep for SAT Test Prep services in the Palo Alto area. read more

Mike was perfect for our son, who didn't need hours and hours of tutoring in a classroom setting. Mike is able to tailor his tutoring to the individual student. With our son he provided some quick pointers, some practice on the essay and the entire test, and got him feeling ready. And come test day, our son aced it! The biggest thing was the amount of confidence our son felt - Mike really relates to kids and gets them pumped up. Highly recommend Mike. read more

I started working with Michael Romano when I was coming off my freshman year in High School. As someone who has always struggled with multiple-choice exams, I was eager to work with Michael. Early Saturday mornings and late nights after school became a time for me to learn how to understand, strategize, and conquer the SAT and SAT II's. After a year of coaching, my SAT test scores were significantly higher. More importantly, I finally had confidence in my own ability to succeed. Michael taught me how to really take the test... not let the test take me! Michael was the first to teach me that no matter what; my own hard work will get me where I want to be in the world :) Castilleja School , Palo Alto 2008 Pepperdine University 2012 read more

STOP!!!!! If you are thinking of enrolling your child in any place other than Mr. Test Prep. I found Michael Romano through a colleague of mine and signed my daughter up last year for SAT prep and was BLOWN away. This is not about whether my daughter got this or that on her SAT (by the way, she killed it!) this review is about how she did it. She typically didn't perform well on standardized tests in the past. Mr. Romano took a young lady who was initially intimidated by the test that many say is "just as important as your GPA" and turned her into a lion. The confidence she developed over time, the real connection he makes with the students, his humor, and most importantly, the results, left us amazed as parents. Start early, follow through, and be amazed. Don't just listed to me, look at all the previous reviews from parents and students. This guy is legit and his students love him. Thanks Michael for an incredible job, and we look forward to having our son work with you next year. read more

I went into my senior year of high school with the intent to start college early but my test taking skills were sub par and the thought of me getting a good enough score on my act seemed out of reach. I got lucky and mr. Test prep believed in me. He would skype call me because I do not live Palo Alto about 4 times a week. He'd sit there and work with me and find a way to make it fun. The first test I took was before I started working with him and I got a 16. That made it seem near impossible for me to raise my score into the twenties but with Mr. Test preps help I ended up getting a 21 as my final score and was able to attend the university of Utah In January instead of the following august. Thank you Mr.Test prep! read more

We are truly grateful to Michael Romano for his help with the SAT preparation. My son took Kaplan Test Prep before and did not see a score improvement, while working with Michael for several weeks increased his score by 100 points. The key difference was in personalized approach to problem-solving, solid structure during test preparation and various helpful tips on how to improve test scores as well as good study habits. read more

What is unique about Michael is that he authentically believes in each person as a student and as a human being, and they know it. This belief is so strong that even though students may initially have doubts about their test taking ability, over time they internalize that confidence that he has in them. This combined with his clear, specific instruction, timed practice and timely feedback, was very powerful and enabled my daughter to focus on what she needed to do to improve. The fact that there was no homework was a huge bonus and made it easy to schedule test prep alongside her school work and extra-curricular activities. Her SAT score improved significantly, into the range where she was a viable candidate for top colleges, and in the running for generous merit aid at great schools that offer merit aid. read more

Aside from being a great sat tutor Michael Romano is genuinely a cool, understanding guy I never thought I would find myself hanging out with a tutor aside from the time my parents made me spend with said tutor. But Michael and I developed a real friendship over time. He was a regular fixture in my hospital room. (completely by his own volition during an unfortunate recent stay. We also watch warriors games and exchange regular texts about NBA Happenings. Michael was a great tutor who helped me and my brother maximize our potential and get great test scores. If you go to mr test prep you will get professional well-experienced tutoring which will yield results for you in your testing performance And if you are fortunate enough to connect with him on a personal level you will realize that he's just a true homie read more

Michael Romano is Fantastic-We've known him for decades!!! Really! He helped my kids with all of their test prep needs and even recently with steering me to MCAT prep tutors! YUP! He's that good,,,,,,He's great with students-they all love him-not only my kids but friends of theirs who we sent his way. I think all these SAT tests are ridiculous and too stressful for young kids BUT since you have to take them and do well---see this man! TU Michael! read more

I was initially skeptical of how much Michael charged relative to other test prep tutors and programs, and even more so after the first session my child took and it wasn't even all one-o-one. Nevertheless, he had come highly recommended by another parent, so we did a number of sessions. While I can't separate out how much my daughter might have improved with another tutor, the fact is her scores did markedly improve. That's why we hired him, and that's what happened. So while I give great credit to my child's efforts, of course, Michael definitely did his part. Enough said. read more

Our son took classes from Michael Romano in 2009/2010 when he was attending Gunn High School. Our son was a very dedicated student but his SAT score needed to be higher. He started a series of sessions with Michael Romano, which were amazingly effective. His score went up by 34%. Michael's abilities helped our son get invaluable strategies and tips on how to tackle the "best" answer on multiple-choice questions; he also gave him solid advice on essay or paragraph writing. Not only did Michael Romano increase our son's confidence in test taking, but he also helped boost his determination in conquering his fears. Michael does not improve only numbers and scores. He is a great human being, an inspiring role model, an amazing mentor, and has become a friend. Jeff C. read more

My experience at Mr. Romano's Test Prep exceeded all of my expectations. Aside from SAT preparation itself, I learned many essential skills that aided to my success towards college applications and in concluding my high school education. Attending the classes weekly, it allowed me flexibility in incorporating my test preparations for the SAT and ACT into my weekly schedules. It accommodated independent studies with assistance from the mastermind himself, which resulted in ultimate mastery for comfortability during the official test day, and even with exams at school. I gradually excelled my skills with Mr. Test Prep to receive an SAT score that blew my mind, which assured me that all my efforts were in fact, worth it. Michael Romano gave me confidence in my abilities and provided me the best possible experience that I will never forget! Michael and I formed a very strong and positive friendship through the process, learning about each others personal lives as well as our interests and childhood stories -- I had such a great experience that at times, I almost forgot that I was at a test prep class! I always entered his home with enthusiasm and excitement for the experiences I would make that day, and I truly will miss everything about my visits up to his home in the heart of Palo Alto. I could never thank you enough, but thank you, thank you, thank you Michael! read more