Mr. Test Prep

I moved here from Israel in the beginning of high school, knowing minimal English and having no prior experience with the competitive academic environment of the Silicon Valley. I walked into Michael’s room with not knowing what to expect from the SAT. Intimidated by the length of the test, and confused by many of the question, I scored an 1800.
Michael quickly came up with a game plan for me, and we started our SAT trek together. Before I knew it, my scores on practice SATs jumped remarkably, to an almost 400 point increase by the end of my tutoring period.
No other tutor is like Michael. His unmatched experience, intellect, sense of humor, and positive energy, make him the sharpest tutor around, but more importantly, make the experience with him enjoyable, and one that you look forward to having.

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.

Unlike the other tutoring centers where having a good tutor is the luck of the draw, you know what you get with Mr. Test Prep. Michael is very experienced and patient with the students. He focuses his conversations with the student based on their mistakes on the practice tests and customizes with the particular sections that each student needs to work on. Doing many of the practice tests at his home without distraction is a more realistic measure of the students ability versus doing the practice tests as homework at home. It also trains the student’s ability to stay focus for an extended period of time, mimicking the real test environment. We also liked Michael’s flexible make up schedule. Even though the student is supposed to sign up to a particular time & day, Micheal is very good about make up lessons which we found very helpful with the chaotic schedule of our teenagers these days. Several occasion when my daughter was sick or have a conflicting activity, Michael is very accommodating, allowing her to attend at a different time. With all the high stress preparing for the tests, Michael also taught my daughter «meditation» techniques to use prior to the exam which is so valuable for the rest of her life. The ability to calm the «nerves» will come in handy before any exams, presentations, job interviews, etc. that our children will face.

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.

Great tutor! So glad we found him. Made all the difference for my son. He had taken the SAT once and was looking to take it again. We already tried C2, and Kaplan both did not work for my son. So instead of trying to find another large SAT prep class, we decided to enroll him with Michael. Best decision we made for college prep:) I think the Unilocal reviews really helped us make the decision. Michael was a fantastic tutor and friend for my son. My son stopped complaining about SAT prep after he started going to Michael. Happy to report that his SAT scores went up by 200 points after taking classes with Michael. My son and Michael got along great and Michael’s techniques really boosted my son’s self confidence. The second time he took his SAT, he was confident and happy. Michael is making a huge positive difference in the lives of so many students, I would highly recommend Michael to anyone that is looking for a SAT tutor.

Words cannot express how thankful I am toward Michael and his wife for their generosity toward my daughter and our family’s financial hardship. I still can’t believe there is a tutoring business out there who isn’t all about making money for themselves like all the ones I was working with. It gives me so much more faith in humanity after meeting Michael. He’s private and doesn’t brag about what he can do or what he knows.

I cannot thank Michael Romano enough. I went there with aspirations to improve my SAT scores but left with much more than I could have ever imagined. Mr Test Prep’s headquarters became a safe haven for me. I never would have thought SAT prep could turn into such an enjoyable experience. Though the experience could not have been enjoyable if it weren’t for Michael. Michael is the coolest tutor I’ve ever had. He’s extremely genuine, helpful, and a quick friend to all his students. The ambiance of his headquarters is very relaxed and peaceful. When working on tests you can occasionally hear singing coming from a voice so pristine it could only belong to Michael. In addition to the honor of hearing Michael break into song every so often, another great thing about his sessions is getting to review tests outside on the bench under the trees. The landscape creates a pleasant environment that dramatically differs from that of the standard classroom. When working with Michael, the test questions seem easy and when they’re not, he talks about them with you until you get it. Simply put, you get what he’s saying and its easily applicable. I consider Michael a friend. He’s very real and totally gets all the stress and pressure that students are under nowadays. I didn’t get the results I wanted on my first SAT last year and he told me that it wasn’t a big deal, just try again. So I continued to go to his sessions (all the while thoroughly enjoying my time there) and the day before my next SAT he said something I’ll never forget. «There ain’t nothing to it besides to do it.» I was speechless. Those few words have made a dramatic impact on my life. Not only did I carry that mentality into the testing room with me, I carried it into all aspects of my life. He’s right. You can study hours on end, pull all nighters, do whatever it takes, but in the end; you just have to go out there and do it. Sure enough I felt at ease during the whole test and when scores came out I had drastically improved! Michael is an extraordinary tutor. With all the things I learned both test related and not test related (thanks for showing me the «What Does the Fox Say» music video…) I would in a heartbeat recommend Mr Test Prep to anyone and everyone. Thanks for teaching me all the ropes of standardized testing but mostly, thanks for being such an awesome, authentic, down to earth tutor! The world needs more people like Michael Romano. He’s the tutor to end all tutors and a lifelong friend. You’re the man Michael!

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

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.

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.

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.

If you are looking for an SAT /​ACT tutor, then look no further because you have found your man. Michael is absolutely fantastic at what he does… and on top of that he is such a good human being. I have thoroughly enjoyed every encounter I have ever had with him, and now highly recommend his services to friends and family as the time approaches for their exams. He is caring, patient, and super smart. His program works. Enjoy!

Coming to Mr. Test prep was one of the best decisions I made throughout my high school career. After struggling with SAT preparation at a pervious tutoring center, I came here hoping to get some real answers on how to improve my SAT score. On my first visit, I realized that the unique approach seemed very promising. I really loved how Michael frequently tracks your progress during each session, and how his tips are tailored to your individual needs. It was really easy to balance SAT preparation with my busy schedule, since his unique approach of having you come for a 2 hour session once a week allows you to easily budget your time amongst all your obligations. Most of all, he is very optimistic and motivating, and the fact that he firmly believes in each student’s ability to perform well on standardized tests gave me so much more confidence as I approached the actual test. My score improved by almost 300 points, and I could not be happier! Michael is more than just an awesome tutor, but more so a mentor and friend who is sure to give you the best tutoring and advice! Definitely come to Mr. Test Prep– you will be glad you did!

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. ~95^th percentile) to an elite score (99^th 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.

Michael is a fantastic tutor! His help getting me prepared for the SATs was invaluable. I couldn’t have done it without him!

After looking around for various folks to help my son prep for the SAT I found Michael Romano and could not be more pleased with the results. He has developed a system that was perfect for my son. I knew my son would never prep on his own — it’s just not in him and he does not have the time. I did not want to pay a lot of money only to have my son not do the work.
Michael understands this. He has the kids do the work in his lovely converted garage and then he reviews what they’ve done right then and there. It’s fresh in the kids’ minds and he walks them through the thought process in a way they can understand. Instant feedback — what a concept!
My son’s score increased by 310 points after working with Michael. I’m sure he wouldn’t have seen that kind of an increase with a different approach. Moreover, he saw that increase without doing any work on his own time. The only time he thought about the SAT was when he was with Michael. If your child will do work on his own, I suspect the results could be even greater.
Michael relates well to the kids and is a joy to work with. I highly recommend him!

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

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.

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 5^th 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

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