The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word SEARCH
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
S
E
A
R
C
H
More clues leading to the result SEARCH
- Examination: one needed to listen in school
- Go through ruined arches
- Look through crumbling arches
- Hunt for words in grid? Perhaps reading in, start to see every one
- Look for evidence of attention in school
- Charges about having lost good rifle
- Look inside someone’s ear, chortling
- Fish about to get attention in school
- Look for academic work about to be banned
- Look for attention in school
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SEARCH mean?
SEARCH noun- An attempt to find something.
- The act of searching in general.
- To look in (a place) for something.
- (followed by "for") To look thoroughly.
- To look for, seek.
- To probe or examine (a wound).
- To examine; to try; to put to the test.