| 100% | STORY | 5 | Level ... or a three-word hint to 20-, 38- and 60-Across |
| 54% | GRADEINFLATION | 14 | Modern educational phenomenon ... or a hint to 20-, 29-, 38- and 45-Across |
| 53% | DRAWTOWARD | 10 | Attract ... or, as three words, sequence change with a hint about 18-, 24-, 38- and 51-Across |
| 53% | IMONYOURSIDE | 12 | Words of full support, or a hint to the ends of 20-, 27-, 35- and 48-Across |
| 53% | STRIKETHAT | 10 | Words of correction ... or a hint to 16-, 20-, 36- and 54-Across |
| 52% | DEEJAYS | 7 | Record spinners ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 38-, 48- and 61-Across |
| 51% | ITSMEAGAIN | 10 | "I'm back!" … or a hint to 17-, 24-, 38- and 51- Across |
| 51% | SOAPS | 5 | Afternoon fare ... or a hint to the ends of 20-, 33-, 41- and 52-Across |
| 51% | BEEF | 4 | Complaint, or a hint to the grades that start 20-, 32-, 40- and 53-Across |
| 51% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 50% | MIXEDFEELINGS | 13 | Ambivalence ... or a hint to 20-, 25- and 41-Across |
| 50% | STRETCHTHETRUTH | 15 | Exaggerate ... or a hint to five nonconsecutive letters in 20-Across, 36-Across and 7-Down |
| 50% | HUEANDCRY | 9 | Public uproar … or a phonetic hint to the two words in 17-, 28- and 48-Across? |
| 50% | SPLIT | 5 | With 51-Across, nitpick ... or a hint to 17-, 37- and 60-Across |
| 50% | HEARTOFSTONE | 12 | Unfeeling nature ... or a literal hint to 19-, 31- and 38-Across |
| 50% | SPLITENDS | 9 | Hairy issue, or a hint to 20-, 26- and 51-Across |
| 49% | SWIPERIGHT | 10 | Show interest romantically ... or a hint to the ends of the answers to 20- and 44-Across, phonetically |
| 49% | HEADSTARTS | 10 | Race advantages ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 49% | SPIN | 4 | Twirl ... or a cryptic hint to 20-, 36- and 51-Across? |
| 49% | THEENDISNEAR | 12 | Apocalyptic warning ... or a hint to 20-, 33- and 42-Across |
| 49% | HEROSANDWICH | 12 | Sub ... or a literal hint to 20-, 34- and 43-Across |
| 49% | OUTSIDECHANCE | 13 | Remote possibility ... or a hint to 20-, 29- and 44-Across |
| 49% | KEYWORD | 7 | Google search need ... or a hint to the ends of 20- and 49-Across and 11- and 28-Down |
| 49% | SODAMIXER | 9 | Ingredient in some cocktails ... or a hint to the last words in 17-, 23-, 32-, 43- and 48-Across |
| 48% | SPLITTHEBILL | 12 | Go Dutch ... or a hint to 20-, 28-, 37- and 44-Across |
| 48% | UNDERCOVERCOP | 13 | Sting operative ... or a hint to 20-, 24-, 39- and 55-Across |
| 48% | DONTSWEATIT | 11 | Reassuring words ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 35- and 48-Across |
| 48% | NOTMYFIRSTRODEO | 15 | "Done this before, you know!" ... or a hint to the last words of 17-, 23-, 31-, 40- and 48-Across |
| 48% | LAST | 4 | Which words to read in 20-, 38- and 53-Across to get a warm welcome |
| 48% | STOMP | 5 | Walk heavily, or a three-word hint to the answers to the starred clues |