Beware of Amateur Test Prep Tutors

When it comes to preparing for the SAT or ACT, the stakes are too high to leave your child’s future in the hands of a part-time amateur, yet in cities like New York that are brimming with self-declared “tutors,” many families unwittingly do just that—and even some test prep companies hire “tutors” who are barely out of high school themselves, with little more than a good test score and a LinkedIn profile. In this article, a top NYC test prep instructor shares why you should hire an elite instructor from day one. The difference between a good instructor and a great one can mean the difference between having to test repeatedly and success on the first try, and between average outcomes and life-changing opportunities. In this blog, we share why you should be aware of amateur test prep tutors.

At The Best Test Prep, we hire no rookies. Just elite, top-ranked instructors with years of proven success. Because nothing less than your child’s outstanding result will do.

Common Experiences with Amateur Tutors

Too many families in New York and other large cities fall into the same trap: they assume that all test prep tutors are created equal. They aren’t.

Many recent grads—or worse, current college students—who took the SAT or ACT once, scored well enough, and now believe they’re qualified to teach others call themselves “tutors” and try to make some fast cash. The reality? Test-taking skills are not the same as instructional mastery—the skill set needed to teach someone else to ace a standardized test is vastly different.

Tutors with minimal experience often:

• Struggle to explain concepts in an understandable way
• Lack professional, proven methods
• Do not possess the experience needed to guide students through their test prep and situations that inevitably arise
• Fail to motivate students
• Teach without any structure or effective study plan leading to Test Day
• Do not even know how and when to use practice tests

This kind of amateur instruction doesn’t waste only money—it costs students in many ways. Low scores lead to missed scholarship opportunities, college rejections, and a frustrating cycle of retesting. Students lose confidence, time, and momentum during a critical academic window.

Elite Instructors Only

At The Best Test Prep, we believe your child deserves a professional—not someone “figuring it out” while teaching. Every member of our instructional team is an expert with deep knowledge of the SAT and ACT, honed through years of high-level tutoring and real-world results.

Our instructors:

• Have elite test scores and extensive, successful teaching experience based on student/client feedback
• Use professional methods that are proven to be efficient and effective
• Build custom study plans based on student strengths, weaknesses, and targets
• Know what it takes to achieve real, huge score increases—not hypothetical ones

They are not side-hustling self-declared “tutors” or college students. They are full-time professionals who live and breathe test prep.

Real Results: Scholarship Wins and Early Admissions

We don’t just promise results—we deliver them. Here are just a few examples of what happens when students are guided by our elite instructors from the start:

• Jonathan, after 4 months of strategic SAT prep, earned a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to a private university.
• Will worked one-on-one with a top ACT instructor and received a composite score of 35
• Ariel, after using an amateur tutor and failing three times to reach his needed SAT score, arrived on our doorstep, received professional instruction, followed a precision-calibrated SAT plan, and surpassed the score he needed to be accepted to the honors program of the university he’d been targeting—on the first try.

These stories aren’t outliers—they’re the result of structured, expert instruction backed by a relentless commitment to mastery.

The Best Test Prep Difference: Relentless Commitment, Top Results

We operate differently because our philosophy is different. The approach is simple: total dedication to student outcomes.

What does that mean in practice?

• No amateur instructors. Only the best professionals.
• No generic plans. Every study path is tailored to the student’s unique profile.
• No wasted time. Every lesson improves performance.
• No disappearing act. We’re available—nights, weekends, and in-between—because your child’s success doesn’t take days off.

We don’t just raise scores. We transform how students think, solve, and perform under pressure. We make them into professional test-takers.

Unmatched Support When It Matters Most

Test prep doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Students are balancing classes, extracurriculars, and college apps. That’s why we offer a level of support that other companies can’t (or won’t) match.

Need to adjust your schedule last-minute? We’ve done it.
Have a question late at night ? We’re there. (And our students are shocked!)
Hit a wall with a certain type of question? We’ll provide guidance, so you can still solve it on your own.

Responsiveness, structure, and strategy—that’s the baseline here.

Test Prep That’s Entertaining

No one ever said test prep had to be joyless. Our instructors bring clarity, precision—and yes, a bit of wit and a touch of humor—to every session. Because a focused, engaged student is a successful one.

By the time our test prep is over, our students miss us.

Don’t Risk Your Child’s Future on Inexperience

The last thing you want is for your child to have to take the SAT or ACT over and over again, wasting time, effort, and money.

Test prep is like anything else—you get what you pay for. Start with a professional instructor from day one.

At The Best Test Prep, we unlock every ounce of student potential with expert-level instruction, personalized planning, and strong attention to results. We’re very involved, because your success is our success.

📞 Call (844) 672-PREP today to get started. Whether you’re aiming for a scholarship or Ivy League admission to a university like Harvard or Princeton, we’re here to help you make your dreams come true.