Not quite ready to be a student (4)

I believe the answer is:

read

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'be a student' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to thinking as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'not quite ready' is the wordplay.
'not quite' means to remove the last letter.
'ready' with its last letter taken away is 'READ'.

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for read that I've seen before include "Undertake a course of study" , "Study (for a degree?)" , "register" , "Speak" , "Con" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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