Examination success for soft-headed dunce (4)
I believe the answer is:
pass
'examination success' is the definition.
'pass' can be an answer for 'success' (pass is a kind of success). I'm unsure of the 'examination' bit.
'soft-headed dunce' is the wordplay.
'soft' becomes 'pp' (musical abbreviation for pianissimo).
'headed' means to remove the first letter (head can mean to remove the top from something).
'dunce' becomes 'ass' (I've seen this in another clue).
'pp' with its first letter taken away is 'p'.
'p'+'ass'='PASS'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pass that I've seen before include "Expression of ignorance" , "Don't answer a question" , "Amatory advance" , "good performance by exam candidate" , "entry document" .)