After nearly three decades and more than 4,000 students, Michael Romano, founder of Mr. Test Prep, is redefining what it means to prepare for standardized tests. In an era where the SAT has gone digital and college admissions policies continue to shift, Romano believes the core challenge for students remains unchanged: knowing the material and being able to access it when it counts are two different things.
"Students don't necessarily need somebody giving them another mountain of work," Romano said. "They need to understand what they don't know, learn it, develop better ways of approaching the test, and then be able to bring all of that with them when the test begins." This philosophy, honed over years of working with students, has led to a test-prep approach that focuses not just on content, but on the mental and emotional skills needed to perform under pressure.
Romano's own journey to a perfect SAT score is a testament to this belief. As a high school student, he scored well but not perfectly. Nearly a decade later, as a Duke University graduate working as a singer-songwriter, he took the SAT cold as part of a qualification process to become a test-prep instructor. Without any preparation, he earned a perfect 1600. "I didn't suddenly know a decade's worth of additional SAT material," Romano explained. "I was just completely there. Everything seemed available when I needed it." That experience underscored the importance of mental state and access to knowledge during the test.
Over the years, Romano observed similar patterns in his students. Some knew more than their scores suggested, while others performed well in practice but struggled under the pressure of the real test. The issue was often not knowledge but access—the ability to recall and apply information effectively when it matters. This led Romano to broaden his definition of test preparation. Students still need to master math, grammar, and reading, but they also need to learn decision-making under time constraints, recognizing when to move on, recovering from mistakes, and trusting their preparation.
Mr. Test Prep's structure reflects this philosophy. Students receive individualized coaching in small-group online sessions, learn directly from the questions they miss, and take full-length practice tests to identify areas needing improvement. There is no required homework, and families pay per session, avoiding large upfront commitments. The goal is straightforward: "1600 is the best you can do. Let's see how close we can get."
In an age of artificial intelligence and readily available information, Romano believes the role of a test-prep coach is more important than ever. "Information isn't scarce anymore," he said. "A student can get an explanation of almost anything in seconds. The challenge is knowing what you need to work on, learning from what you're getting wrong, and then being able to use what you know when the moment arrives." This focus on diagnosis, judgment, and coaching distinguishes Mr. Test Prep from other resources.
The implications of this approach extend beyond test scores. Romano notes that the skills developed through this method—attention, preparation, decision-making, learning from mistakes, and performing under pressure—are valuable life skills. "Those aren't merely SAT or ACT skills," he said. "They apply to any situation where performance matters." For nearly 30 years, Mr. Test Prep has helped students discover their capabilities and ensure those capabilities show up when it counts, elevating more than just a score.
