11 Ways to Spot a Bad SAT / ACT Tutor Before They Waste Your Time and Money

It can be difficult for parents to know what to look for in a test prep tutor. That’s not a personal failing, but an industry problem—unfortunately, amateur “tutors” with questionable or no credentials are a dime a dozen. They’re everywhere, and as a result, the SAT / ACT prep world is flooded with recent college grads, side-gig freelancers, and underqualified influencers who promise results they can’t deliver. In this article, we share “11 Ways to Spot a Bad SAT / ACT Tutor Before They Waste Your Time and Money,” because fixing bad prep is always more expensive than doing it right the first time.

1. They Brag About Their Own Score (And Not Much Else)

Yes, a high SAT or ACT score is important. It’s not enough, though—a 1600 or 36 might mean someone is a good test-taker, but it doesn’t mean they can teach well. The two skill sets are completely different, so if a tutor leads with their own score while being unable to articulate a problem-solving method or produce a track record of student results, proceed with caution.

Teaching effectively is a skill just like acing a standardized test is. Look for someone who can demonstrate both.

2. They Lack a Professional Test Prep System

A real instructor doesn’t just “go over problems.” They have a clear, step-by-step system that stretches from the first session all the way to Test Day. They understand how to use diagnostic test results and methodically assemble in a student all the skills that are needed to significantly raise scores.

If your tutor shows up and wings it—or simply assigns practice tests, which is another common sign of an amateur tutor—you’re paying for glorified babysitting, not professional instruction.

3. They Cannot Explain Their Methods

A professional SAT / ACT tutor can explain everything clearly and concisely, whether their method for solving any question type or the overall process of test preparation. They know exactly why their strategies work and how they reduce errors, save time, and boost scores, without needing to rely on buzzwords. Professionals can teach without confusing the student and make challenging areas easier to understand, not more mysterious.

If your child leaves sessions confused, you’re dealing with someone who has not mastered instruction. You’re also wasting valuable time and money.

4. Their Selection of Materials is Poor

Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are incredibly specific, having recently been updated and using certain question structures to measure an array of skills. If your tutor is relying on out-of-date test books, high school worksheets, or seemingly random materials that do not resemble the actual SAT or ACT, it’s a sign of trouble.

Effective prep uses up-to-date materials from the writers of the respective test, and supplementary materials that reflect its exact logic and difficulty.

5. They Over-Promise Early Results

If a tutor guarantees massive score jumps after a few sessions, run. True mastery takes time, repetition, and methodical review. Promising shortcuts is a hallmark of someone trying to make a quick sale.

No one becomes a professional test-taker in two weeks. Effective prep is a process. The right tutor knows that and sets realistic expectations.

6. They Avoid Accountability

Bad tutors often avoid real metrics, because beneath the surface, they don’t want to be found out. Deep down, many know that they pursued “easy money” and signed up for a job they’re not qualified for. They might resist giving full-length practice tests, or dodge questions about progress. They speak in terms of glittering generalities rather than clear metrics.

Good prep is measurable. If your tutor cannot explicitly show you what is improving, why it is improving, and what still needs to be improved, then they are not doing their job. Hope is not a strategy.

7. They Do Not Adapt to the Student 

Amateur tutors teach every student the same way, because they lack the professional skill set to adjust based on learning style, communication needs, or content gaps. They hope that what worked for one person (often themselves) will work for everyone.

Great tutors calibrate and build customized instruction. They adapt the script to the student.

8. They Do Not Adapt to Situations That Arise

Standardized test preparation is a marathon, not sprint, and during the process, a whole host of unexpected circumstances can arise. Here at The Best Test Prep, we’ve seen students with medical situations and family emergencies shortly before their test, and even during their test. Everything from previously unknown learning challenges and test anxiety to financial issues, scheduling difficulties, and mistakes made by the College Board or ACT, Inc. can occur—a seasoned professional will have the necessary experience to successfully navigate and provide their client with correct guidance.

An amateur tutor will be lost. Unfortunately, to save face, they usually make up their guidance as they go, which leads to negative outcomes and distraught parents calling us.

9. They Focus on “Tricks” Instead of Mastery

Bad tutors love gimmicks: process-of-elimination hacks, random acronyms, or pattern-spotting games that sound clever but rarely hold up under real testing conditions.

While strategic efficiency is important, it must be grounded in actual understanding and a professional approach to each question type. A student who simply memorizes tips and tricks without mastering their test will crumble on Test Day.

10. They Communicate with Parents Reactively, Not Proactively

This is a big one, and a very effective litmus test to distinguish an amateur tutor from a professional instructor. The latter can glean an enormous amount of information about a student’s aptitudes from their instructional sessions, and will want to share it with parents to keep them informed. Professionals provide regular updates without being asked, and communicate clear  insights into progress, challenges, and next steps. An amateur tutor, on the other hand, isn’t as tuned in—they don’t have the same grasp of the student’s progress, and therefore won’t have much to share. Only when a parent contacts them to inquire, an amateur will typically manufacture a status report filled with generalities that don’t have much value. If your tutor communicates only upon request, they are not running a professional operation.

You’re investing time and money. You deserve transparency and proactive communication.  Vague reassurances are not a substitute for direct insight.

11. They Don’t Know the Details of Preparing for Test Day

A real SAT / ACT instructor will teach your child every detail they need to know to prepare for Test Day, e.g.,  adjusting sleep cycles, rest days, and even what to eat for breakfast. If your tutor doesn’t know how to approach Test Day—exactly what to do the week before, the day before, and the morning of. We recommend finding a professional who does.

Test Day is a performance. The best tutors know how to master it.

Bad Prep Seems Cheaper at First But is Expensive Later

Test prep is like anything else—you get what you pay for. Many families unfortunately end up spending more time and money in the long run as a result of trying to cut costs by hiring an amateur “tutor” who advertises low rates but provides poor services. A large percentage of our clients at The Best Test Prep have previously tried using seemingly cost-effective solutions that ended up wasting money and delaying progress by months. When they finally find us, they know they’re on the right track, and breathe a sigh of relief.

Every ineffective session pushes your child’s timeline back. Every bad test-taking habit reinforced needs to be undone. Don’t fall for offers that are too good to be true—look for professionals.

Call (844) 672-PREP to work with experienced, full-time instructors who actually know what they are doing.