Cut back document for orals? (5)
I believe the answer is:
exams
'for orals?' is the definition.
(oral is a kind of exam)
'cut back document' is the wordplay.
'cut' becomes 'axe' (both can mean to cancel or remove).
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'document' becomes 'ms'.
'axe' back-to-front is 'exa'.
'exa'+'ms'='EXAMS'
(Other definitions for exams that I've seen before include "Important tests" , "Cut up writing" , "summer term commitment?" , "More than one test" , "Knowledge tests" .)