| 100% | ESSAYTEST | 9 | Exam answered in a blue book ... and a phonetic hint to 17-, 23- and 44-Across |
| 54% | ESSAYCOLLECTION | 15 | Anthology of personal writings ... and a phonetic hint to what is literally comprised by the answers of 17-, 23-, 46- and 56-Across |
| 54% | ZITI | 4 | Tubular pasta ... and a phonetic hint to 17-, 23-, 51- and 60-Across |
| 54% | HOLYTRINITY | 11 | Central Christian belief … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across |
| 53% | ZHUZHUP | 7 | Fancify … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 23-, 50- and 62-Across |
| 50% | STICKEMUP | 9 | "Hands in the air!" ... or a literal hint to 17-, 23-, 37- and 46-Across |
| 50% | ELLEWOODS | 9 | "Legally Blonde" protagonist... or a phonetic hint to 12 Across and 17 Across |
| 50% | HUEANDCRY | 9 | Public uproar … or a phonetic hint to the two words in 17-, 28- and 48-Across? |
| 49% | DEVIOUS | 7 | Sly, and a phonetic hint to the pattern in the last words of 17-, 24-, 42-, and 58-Across |
| 49% | PLACECARDS | 10 | Wedding table indicators, or a hint to 17-, 23-, 34- and 44-Across |
| 48% | ILOVETHATFORYOU | 15 | "So great, bestie!," and a phonetic hint to 17-, 27-, and 48-Across |
| 48% | ARTOODETOO | 10 | "Star Wars" droid ... or a phonetic hint to what's found in 17-, 26-, 41- and 52-Across |
| 48% | YOUSEE | 6 | "It's like this," and a phonetic hint to the five longest Across answers |
| 47% | AREYOUOKAY | 10 | Query of concern … or a phonetic hint to two pairs of letters appearing in 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 47% | FORTIES | 7 | Decade in which the Slinky debuted ... and a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 47% | INSIDEMAN | 9 | Helper in a bank job, and a hint to an infiltrator in six Across answers |
| 46% | BUTTERCHURN | 11 | Dairy implement, and a hint to what's hidden in 16-, 23-, 32-, and 44-Across |
| 46% | BRINGEMON | 9 | Fighter's dare … or a hint to answering 17-, 23-, 34- and 48-Across |
| 46% | APPENDAGE | 9 | Wing, e.g. ... or a hint to answering 17-, 23-, 49- and 56-Across |
| 46% | BEGONE | 6 | "Scram!" (and a phonetic hint to how to treat seven Across answers) |
| 46% | CUTITOUT | 8 | "Stop that!" ... and a hint to the answers to 17-, 23-, 39- and 52-Across |
| 46% | ESPYS | 5 | Annual athletic achievement awards, and a phonetic hint to 17-, 27-, 47- and 61-Across |
| 46% | CARDHOLDER | 10 | One with credit ... or a literal hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across |
| 46% | NO | 2 | With 38-Across, what a two-letter answer is in a crossword, usually ... or a hint to 20-, 24-, 44- and 51-Across |
| 45% | FOURHCLUBS | 10 | Youth groups ... with a hint to 17-, 28- and 44-Across |
| 45% | BEADYEYES | 9 | Rodentlike features, and a phonetic hint to a segment of 18-, 23-, 36-, and 50-Across |
| 45% | FIRSTSTATE | 10 | Delaware's nickname, or a hint to 17-, 23-, and 54-Across |
| 45% | SODAMIXER | 9 | Ingredient in some cocktails ... or a hint to the last words in 17-, 23-, 32-, 43- and 48-Across |
| 44% | ESSAY | 5 | Kind of test ... or a phonetic hint to 17-, 25-, 36-, 47- and 57-Across |
| 44% | MIDSIZE | 7 | Neither large nor small ... or a phonetic hint to 17-, 30-, 45- and 57-Across |