A scholarly effort (5)

I believe the answer is:

essay

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'effort' is the definition.
(essay is a kind of effort)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for essay that I've seen before include "Test" , "Written academic work" , "What may be written in exam" , "Attempt - written work" , "Short literary piece: attempt" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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