<p>Some practical solutions might include:</p>
<p>Make a schedule of your week, a visual planner. Post it where everyone can see what time is given to school, school work, sleeping, eating, ECs and studying for SATs. Negiotiate that last amount…</p>
<p>Tell your father in advance that you are taking a break for x minutes at x o’clock. yes, that’s a pain. But it might forestall some yelling.</p>
<p>Don’t use the words tired or exhausted. Use “not retaining things” or " want to test my retention". Parents, in general, find it astonishing that people who do not have jobs, financial responsibilities, children, or debts could ever be tired.</p>
<p>Enlist the aid of an SAT all-star student’s advice: Find an online source of study hints. Present this to dad as " what do you think about these ideas? Could you help me decide if any of these are any good?" which may give him some power, some perspective, and something to do. </p>
<p>I nagged my children to study SAT technique, but I agree that SAT novels are better for vocab. Or those flash cards, done in very small chunks over time if he needs something conventional to keep him quiet. Your father is out of line, imho. You know what you know. Cramming or gaming the SAT ultimately is self destructive, because it can misrepresent your abilities, which then can mismatch you to a school. SATs also can’t measure maturity, work ethic, perseverance, resiliance or social ability — all of which are as important as mere academic prowess when it comes to graduating from college.</p>