Choosing a test prep tutor (or company) can feel like a leap of faith. Everyone claims to have a proven method, expert tutors, and impressive results—but once you look past the glossy website or the friendly phone call, how do you know what you’re really getting?
These seven questions are designed to cut through the marketing and get to the heart of what matters: the quality of instruction, the integrity of the approach, and whether the tutor actually knows how to help your student improve. You don’t need to know everything about the SAT or ACT to ask the right questions—you just need to know which answers signal competence, experience, and honesty.
Here’s the questions to ask a test prep tutor before signing on.
1. What is your approach to test prep tutoring?
This should always be your first question. Every company may be preparing students for the same test, but their philosophies can differ dramatically. You may not know the “right” answer going in—but you’ll recognize conviction when you hear it. A strong tutor has thought deeply about their approach. They can articulate not just what they do, but why they do it that way. And while it’s possible to be confident and passionate and still be wrong, the truth is: bad tutors rarely sound like they’ve wrestled with this question at all.
2. What is the average improvement your students exhibit?
On the surface, this feels like the most important question—and in theory, it is. But it’s more complicated than it seems. First, companies differ in how they measure improvement. Some use formal diagnostics; others rely on PSAT scores or student-reported baselines, which can skew results. Second, the starting point matters. A company whose students average a 1450 will naturally show smaller gains than one working with students in the 1100s. So don’t just ask what the gains are—ask how they’re tracked, and who they’re coming from.
3. Who will be working with my student, and what are their credentials?
This is one of the most overlooked questions. It’s easy to browse a website, see a few friendly bios, and assume everyone is equally qualified. But what’s often missing is any real transparency about tutor experience—or how the company actually hires. Don’t get distracted by degrees or name-brand résumés alone. Ask how tutors are selected, trained, and evaluated. Some companies keep prices low by hiring the first competent applicant. Others charge more because they’re deliberately selective—choosing only those who meet a far higher bar.
4. How do you decide what content to cover with each student?
This seemingly simple question reveals a major philosophical divide. Does the company walk every student through the entire test, or do they zero in on the specific concepts holding your student back? Fixed curricula aren’t necessarily bad—but they often signal a one-size-fits-all approach. Companies that rely heavily on standardized content may not fully trust their tutors to diagnose and adapt. The result? Wasted time. A thoughtful, diagnostic-driven approach is not only more efficient—it’s far more effective.
5. What’s your philosophy on test-taking strategy vs. content mastery?
This question gets to the heart of how a tutor thinks—and yes, there is a right answer. The best tutors lead with content mastery. They help students truly understand the math, reading, and writing concepts behind the test, and then layer in strategy to improve efficiency and confidence. Tricks and shortcuts can offer quick wins, but they won’t carry a student to their full potential. Real improvement comes from real understanding.
6. How do you determine how many sessions my student will need?
This question reveals more about a company’s integrity than its expertise. In any learning process, most gains come early—then progress naturally slows. A trustworthy tutor will recognize this, adjust pacing, and even recommend pausing if your student hits a plateau. Be wary of anyone who insists on a fixed number of sessions without understanding your student’s goals or baseline. This question helps you spot whether a company is truly student-centered—or just focused on billable hours.
7. How do you support students between sessions?
Tutoring isn’t just what happens during the hour—it’s also what students do with that hour afterward. Ask how the tutor reinforces lessons, assigns and reviews homework, and remains accessible for quick questions or motivation in between sessions. Some tutors provide ongoing check-ins, customized homework plans, or feedback loops; others disappear until the next appointment. This question helps you distinguish between passive session-based tutors and those who take ownership of the entire learning arc.
Choosing a test prep solution is about more than finding someone who knows the material—it’s about finding someone who knows how to teach it, how to adapt, and how to genuinely move the needle for your student. These seven questions aren’t just a checklist; they’re a filter. Ask them, and you’ll quickly separate the polished sales pitches from the providers who actually deliver. The right tutor won’t just answer these questions—they’ll appreciate that you asked.
