Makes jokes about the local trials the students have to do before leaving? (5)
I believe the answer is:
mocks
'makes' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mocks that I've seen before include "practice exams" , "Makes fun of" , "Ridicules" , "trial examinations" , "Test examinations" .)