| 100% | HERD | 4 | Group of sheep or the last four letters of who guides them? |
| 44% | FINALCUT | 8 | Director's demand, and the last four or five letters of each starred answer |
| 43% | STRINGQUARTET | 13 | Classical music group ... or what the four sets of circled letters make up? |
| 41% | FRIENDSTOTHEEND | 15 | True buds, and a hint to the last three or four letters of each starred answer |
| 40% | CALLSIGN | 8 | The four letters of a radio or TV station |
| 40% | NEWYEAR | 7 | What the last four letters of eight key answers in this puzzle might be considered, cryptically |
| 39% | KRIS | 4 | Singer whose first name is the first four letters of his last name |
| 39% | FINALSWEEK | 10 | Period for taking exams ... or a hint to the pattern shown in the last three or four letters of the asterisked answers |
| 38% | TOSCA | 5 | Puccini opera ... or the first five letters of the maestro who conducted its La Scala premiere |
| 37% | VERMONT | 7 | State whose last four letters are the first four letters of its capital |
| 37% | ALDA | 4 | Famous Alan whose last name shares three of the four letters of ALAN |
| 36% | END | 3 | With 72-Across, evasive strategy ... and a hint to the last several letters of the four longest Across answers |
| 36% | HERD | 4 | Group of sheep or goats |
| 36% | CHANGEDONESMIND | 15 | Decided otherwise ... or a hint to the four sets of circled letters |
| 36% | KAY | 3 | Mary ___ cosmetics... or word that sounds like the last letter of 25a |
| 35% | JUSTHAVINGABALL | 15 | Living it up ... or a hint to the six groups of circled letters |
| 35% | ANIMALHOUSE | 11 | 1978 John Belushi movie, and a hint to the first three or four letters of the starred answers |
| 35% | HOMESTRETCH | 11 | Last leg of a race ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 34% | STORYTELLER | 11 | Someone who narrates a fairy tale ... or the title of Carrie Underwood's latest album |
| 34% | HERD | 4 | Group of cattle or sheep |
| 34% | HERD | 4 | Group of cows or sheep |
| 34% | FLOCKS | 6 | Groups of geese or sheep |
| 34% | XYZ | 3 | Last three letters of the alphabet |
| 33% | POSTITNOTES | 11 | Sticky yellow squares ... or a description of the circled letters and what they follow? |
| 33% | USSR | 4 | Acronym aptly made of the first four letters of "Russia" |
| 33% | SSN | 3 | No. that someone might memorize the last four digits of |
| 33% | ORCA | 4 | Mammal made from the first four letters of 49-Down |
| 33% | TEASEAPART | 10 | Carefully distinguish ... or a phonetic hint to the first and last letters of 17-, 26-, 48-, and 61-Across |
| 33% | ENSEMBLE | 8 | Group of musicians or actors who perform together |
| 33% | ENSEMBLE | 8 | Group of actors or musicians who perform together |