Spring exam official in the city? (7)
I believe the answer is:
mayoral
'official in the city?' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'spring exam' is the wordplay.
'spring' becomes 'may' (I've seen this before).
'exam' becomes 'oral' (spoken academic test).
'may'+'oral'='MAYORAL'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mayoral that I've seen before include "Dignitary's" , "Relating to town's elected head" , "for local official" , "for chief councillor?" , "Concerned with official" .)