| EXTERNALDEGREE | Type of academic qualification acquired by eg Brenda and Martha |
| EXAM | In Simplex, a mercurial type of academic challenge (4) |
| GRAMMARSCHOOL | *Type of academic establishment in the United Kingdom |
| MORTARBOARD | Type of academic cap (11) |
| DEGREE | 360th part of a circle's circumference; an academic qualification held by a Bachelor of Arts or of Science, for example; or, 60 geographical miles (6) |
| NAUSEA | And 22 1972 novel by Emma Lathen, pseudonym of authors Mary Jane Latsis and Martha Henissart (6,7,5) |
| LAZARUS | According to the Gospel of John, the resurrected brother of Mary and Martha (7) |
| SCATTERBRAINED | Brenda and I could be described as absent-minded |
| WALSH | Brenda and Brandon's last name, on "Beverly Hills, 90210" |
| BACCALAUREATE | Exceptionally able and accurate? Get "A" in academic qualification (13) |
| DOCTORATE | Head of department takes more than half a month to judge academic qualification |
| GCSE | Academic qualification in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (initials) (4) |
| HONOURSDEGREE | Treatment of hero undergoes superior academic qualification (7,6) |
| MURDER | 1972 novel by Emma Lathen, pseudonym of authors Mary Jane Latsis and Martha Henissart (6,7,5) |
| AUNTS | Abby and Martha, to Mortimer, in "Arsenic and Old Lace" |
| REEVES | Singers Jim and Martha split up about start of eighties (6) |
| FLOTOW | Friedrich von ?, composer of operas Alessandro Stradella and Martha (6) |
| MCGARRIGLE | Kate ?, Canadian folk singer-songwriter; late mother of singers Rufus and Martha Wainwright (10) |
| BUTTE | Birthplace of Evel Knievel and Martha Raye |
| LEES | Brenda and Tommy |
