A student might write one like a shot! (5)

I believe the answer is:

essay

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'shot' is the definition.
(I know that essay is a type of shot)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for essay that I've seen before include "School composition" , "Trial, piece of writing" , "Thesis" , "Scholarly work" , "example of Hazlitt's work" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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