| ACIDTEST | A decisive assessment or trial (4,4) |
| LITMUS | Decisive assessment essential in disputed titles (6,4) |
| TEST | Decisive assessment essential in disputed titles (6,4) |
| DUMMYRUN | A practice or trial (5,3) |
| REHEARSE | To perform e.g. a play for private practice or trial (8) |
| REVIEW | Word for a looking back; a formal inspection of military troops or naval ships; an assessment or survey; a critique; or, a periodical with write ups on books, culture, current events etc (6) |
| PROOF | A test or trial; a standard strength of alcoholic spirits; factual evidence; or, a preliminary impression of a page for review by a copy-editor (5) |
| SHOOTOUT | A decisive gun-fight or part of a sporting contest |
| REAPPRAISAL | The assessment or estimation again of the worth, value or quality of a person or thing (11) |
| DUEL | From an old poetic word for "war" and Latin for "two", a single wager of battle or trial by combat; an affaire d'honneur or monomachy; or, any contest or struggle between two (4) |
| COUPLING | Made a connection with a decisive blow on Heather (8) |
| CRITICAL | Having a decisive or crucial importance (8) |
| SHOWDOWN | Term originating through card games that means a decisive confrontation or contest |
| HANDLER | A person who exhibits a dog at a show or trial (7) |
| CLINCHER | One grappling with a decisive argument |
| HASTINGS | A decisive battle here in 1066 (8) |
| WATERLOO | Walter rings about a decisive engagement |
| SARATOGA | Site of a decisive battle of 1777 |
| SCOT | Assessment or tax |
| PILOT | Test or trial (project or programme) (5) |
