Sept. 2025

Dear Andrea,

I'm starting university this fall and I’m anxious about taking tests. In high school, I always froze during exams. My heart would race, and my mind would go blank. Now that I am starting university, I'm worried it will lower my GPA. I really want to get this under control.

— A Worried First-Year

Dear Worried First-Year,

You are not alone. Test anxiety is something I hear about all the time, and it's common for students making the leap to university.

Test anxiety doesn't have to derail your academic success; a little bit of stress can be helpful. Most students perform best when alert, focused, and slightly nervous. Most students tell me that working from a 7 on an anxiety scale out of 10 increases their performance.

Here are some questions for you.

• Is your anxiety mostly around tests, or do you feel this way in other situations, too?
• Have you ever discussed this with a doctor or mental health professional?
• Are your grades lower than you'd like, or is it mostly how you feel during the test?
• And finally, what are your study skills like?

If the anxiety is part of a bigger problem, your grades are suffering, or this is affecting your everyday functioning, I strongly encourage you to contact a healthcare provider and your school's accessibility office. You may be eligible for accommodations such as extra time or a quieter space to take your exams.

But if you're doing reasonably well and it's the anxiety and stress around testing that's weighing on you, then here are a few strategies to get you started:

1. Begin each test with a deep breath.

Before a test, pause and take a few deep, slow breaths. This calms your nervous system and helps re-center your focus. Taking a deep breath helps your brain function more effectively.

2. Practice active studying.

Many students think studying means rereading notes or highlighting textbooks. That's a very passive way to engage with content. Studies show active studying is effective and increases retention and recall during tests. Make flashcards, quiz yourself, create diagrams, explain concepts out loud, or join a study group where you can talk through the content. Active study strategies build confidence and deeper understanding which will reduce your anxiety.

3. Build your test-taking toolkit.

Doing well on a test is more than just knowing the content. Different types of tests, such as multiple-choice, essay, and short-answer, require different strategies. There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Developing test-taking tools will increase your confidence and reduce stress.

4. Are you studying sufficiently?  

Being under-prepared contributes to test anxiety, and most students don't realize how much they need to study. The golden rule is that you need to spend 3 hours studying for every 1 hour you spend in a lecture. Consider leveling up how much time you spend preparing.

You don't have to figure this out alone. Start by reflecting on your experience, how this anxiety manifests, and whether it's affecting your performance. That will help you decide whether accommodations or additional support might be helpful. Then, begin to build your toolbox: use breathing to calm your nervous system, shift to active studying to develop confidence, explore test-taking strategies that match the format of your exams, and ensure you have spent enough time understanding and knowing the test content.

Finally, use the resources available on campus: talk to a counsellor to learn stress-reduction techniques, visit your school's accessibility office if accommodations might help, and connect with a learning strategist who can help you build the right skills. There's no shame in needing support. After all, university is a time to learn how you learn best.

Cheering you on,

Andrea

About This Column

Dear Andrea is a new advice column written by Andrea Zians. Andrea is the principal consultant and founder of Andrea Zians | Strategic Academics, a new educational consulting company that builds student success by helping students, their families, and the professionals who support them.

Do you have a question about school success? Please send it to [email protected]. You might see your question answered in a future column.

Because academic success is life success—and every student deserves the chance to thrive.