| 100% | FINALSWEEK | 10 | Period for taking exams ... or a hint to the pattern shown in the last three or four letters of the asterisked answers |
| 52% | FRIENDSTOTHEEND | 15 | True buds, and a hint to the last three or four letters of each starred answer |
| 47% | ANIMALHOUSE | 11 | 1978 John Belushi movie, and a hint to the first three or four letters of the starred answers |
| 43% | BACKBOARD | 9 | Hoop holder, and a hint to the first four letters of each asterisked answer |
| 43% | CANISTEALYOUFORASECOND | 22 | Request for one-on-one time in the "Bachelor" TV franchise … or a phonetic hint to four pairs of answers in this puzzle |
| 43% | FOLLOWINGTHE | 12 | With 58-Down, a patient process? ... or a hint to two consecutive letters in the answer to each of the seven starred clues |
| 42% | END | 3 | With 72-Across, evasive strategy ... and a hint to the last several letters of the four longest Across answers |
| 41% | LENDINGOUT | 10 | Allowing use of, as a library does ... or, in three parts, a hint to four puzzle answers |
| 41% | SHREDDEDWHEAT | 13 | Breakfast cereal ... or a hint to what's found in the answers to the four starred clues? |
| 41% | BACKSTORY | 9 | Fictional past, or a hint to four-letter words found in the starred answers |
| 41% | CRYUNCLE | 8 | Concede ... or a hint to the last words of the answers to starred clues |
| 41% | HOMESTRETCH | 11 | Last leg of a race ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 41% | ROLLTHEDICE | 11 | Take a chance ... or a hint to the letters in the shaded squares |
| 41% | AWRINKLEINTIME | 14 | Classic young adult novel ... or hint to the path taken by four letters in the answers to the starred clues |
| 40% | ILLSECONDTHAT | 13 | "Amen!" ... or a hint to the start of four other long answers |
| 40% | CHANGEDONESMIND | 15 | Decided otherwise ... or a hint to the four sets of circled letters |
| 40% | COVERALLTHEBASES | 16 | Take care of everything … or a hint to what four squares in this puzzle do |
| 40% | COMPASS | 7 | Provider of directions ... or a hint to the four "+" shapes in this puzzle's grid |
| 40% | BUGSOUT | 7 | Leaves in a hurry, or a hint to the cluing of the starred answers |
| 40% | YOURATTENTIONPLEASE | 19 | Start of an announcement ... or a hint to what's hidden in the answers to the six starred clues |
| 39% | SWIPERIGHT | 10 | Show interest romantically ... or a hint to the ends of the answers to 20- and 44-Across, phonetically |
| 39% | BUTTONDOWN | 10 | Very conventional ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to the four starred clues |
| 39% | GOFETCH | 7 | Dog command … or a hint to the starts of the answers to the four starred clues |
| 39% | MIDTERM | 7 | Kind of exam, with a hint to the answers to the four starred clues |
| 39% | NAMECARDS | 9 | Labels at a dinner party ... or a hint to the circled letters hidden in the theme answers? |
| 39% | BESIDES | 7 | Also ... and, in three parts, a hint to the four longest Across answers |
| 39% | CANDY | 5 | Sweets ... and, in three parts, a hint to the four longest Across answers |
| 39% | STILLIRISE | 10 | Classic Maya Angelou poem … or a hint to the answers to the starred clues and the circled letters, in two different ways |
| 39% | IMONAROLL | 9 | "Things could not be going better for me!" ... or a hint to the placement of the circled letters |
| 39% | RAMPUP | 6 | Increase rapidly ... or a hint to connecting four pairs of answers in this puzzle |