What Is the Rice Purity Test and Why Do People Take It?
The Rice Purity Test is a self-scoring questionnaire made up of 100 yes-or-no questions. Each one asks about a person’s past behaviors—everything from holding hands to drug use. When someone finishes, they get a score out of 100. The higher the score, the more “pure” their experiences are considered. A lower score means they’ve done more things on the list.
At first glance, it might look like just a silly internet quiz. But for many people, especially teenagers and college students, it’s more than that. It’s a way to explore identity, compare experiences with others, or simply have a laugh with friends. Some take it out of curiosity. Others use it to bond in a group or start conversations that feel a little awkward to bring up otherwise.
Although it wasn’t designed as a scientific test, it has found a place in pop culture. People share their scores online, react to each other’s answers, and even turn the test into trends. It plays a small, strange role in how young people talk about life and growing up. Whether it’s done for fun, self-reflection, or social reasons, the test keeps circulating online. Maybe because it’s just human nature to want to know how we compare.
The Strange but True Origin of the Rice Purity Test
The Rice Purity Test didn’t start online. In fact, it wasn’t even meant for the public at first. It was created at Rice University in Houston, Texas, back in the 1930s. Freshman students were encouraged to take it as part of orientation. It helped them break the ice and talk about personal topics in a playful, non-judgmental way.
The idea wasn’t to shame anyone. Instead, it was more like a bonding tool. You’d fill it out, laugh over the results with your dorm mates, and maybe share some stories you wouldn’t tell just anyone. It was supposed to bring people closer, not push them apart.
Over time, the test spread beyond the university. As graduates left and talked about it elsewhere, other schools and groups started using it too. Still, for decades, it stayed mostly on paper and circulated quietly. It wasn’t until much later—when the internet exploded—that the test found a whole new life.
From Dorm Rooms to Digital Fame: The Test Goes Viral
Once the internet became a major part of everyday life, the Rice Purity Test made the leap from a printed sheet to a clickable quiz. That’s when everything changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t just Rice students taking the test. It was teenagers in other countries, strangers on Reddit, and influencers on TikTok.
What made it go viral? Simplicity. Anyone could take the test in a few minutes, see a score right away, and share it instantly. That instant feedback loop gave people a reason to post about it and react to each other’s results. Some used it for fun; others used it as a kind of confession or rite of passage.
Social media helped push it further. People made memes about it. Group chats blew up with comparisons. Even YouTubers started filming themselves taking it on camera. The Rice Purity Test had become a cultural thing—not just a quiz, but a part of online youth culture.
Despite being decades old, it found new energy online. And oddly enough, it stayed mostly the same. The format didn’t need updating to grab attention in the digital world—it just needed the right platform.
What Your Rice Purity Score Says (and Doesn’t Say) About You
When someone gets their Rice Purity score, the number can feel like a big deal. A score in the 90s might make them feel innocent. A score below 50 could spark laughter—or judgment. But what do these scores really mean?
To be honest, not much. The test wasn’t made to label people. It doesn’t say if someone is good or bad. It doesn’t measure intelligence or kindness. It just counts how many things on a specific list someone has done. Some people answer honestly. Others don’t. That alone makes the score more of a conversation starter than anything serious.
Still, the number can stir up feelings. Some might feel proud of a “high” score. Others might feel embarrassed about a “low” one. But that’s the thing—there’s no right number. Everyone has different life experiences. The test doesn’t consider why someone did or didn’t do something. It doesn’t know if someone was pressured, curious, or just not interested.
In the end, it’s better to see the score as a reflection of different paths, not a judgment. It can open the door to discussion or self-reflection, but it shouldn’t be taken as a full picture of who someone is. Life is complex. A number can’t explain that.
The Cultural Mirror: What the Test Reveals About Gen Z & Millennials
The Rice Purity Test might seem simple, but it actually says a lot about how young people see themselves—and each other. Today’s teens and young adults live in a time where personal choices are constantly shared, judged, or questioned. The test captures that tension in a strange, subtle way.
Each question reflects a milestone or choice. Kissing. Drinking. Breaking rules. These aren’t just random events. They’re moments where someone steps into adulthood—or at least what feels like it. For Gen Z and younger millennials, the test can be a playful way to check in with how “normal” their lives feel compared to others.
But it’s also more than that. The way people talk about their scores online shows a shift in how society views identity, relationships, and values. Many no longer see the test as a purity checklist. Instead, it’s a social game that reveals how open or bold someone is willing to be in public.
By using the test this way, younger generations show how they’re navigating a world full of mixed messages. Be yourself, but don’t be “too much.” Share your truth, but not if it makes people uncomfortable. The Rice Purity Test sits right in the middle of that cultural storm—and that’s why it hasn’t gone away.
Digital Confessions: How the Test Builds Online Connection
One of the most interesting parts of the Rice Purity Test is how it connects people. At first, it might seem private—just a personal quiz. But in the digital world, nothing stays personal for long. People post their scores. They laugh about them, debate them, even flirt over them.
These shared experiences often create digital intimacy. It’s easier to open up when everyone’s doing it. In group chats, Reddit threads, or TikTok comments, people tell stories they might never say in real life. The test becomes a soft entry point into more personal conversations.
For some, it’s about finding others who had similar paths. For others, it’s about curiosity—comparing lives, learning what’s “normal,” and realizing that maybe there is no normal at all. It’s surprising how often the test leads to deep talks about love, identity, risk-taking, or regret.
Even with all its flaws, the test creates a sense of belonging. That’s rare online, where it’s easy to feel alone behind a screen. Through these shared scores and quiet confessions, strangers become friends. Or at least feel like someone out there gets it.
Purity Culture or Just for Fun? The Ongoing Debate
While many people treat the Rice Purity Test as a joke or group activity, others see deeper issues hiding behind the fun. Some critics say the test pushes outdated ideas about morality. They argue that calling someone more “pure” just because they’ve done fewer things is unfair—and maybe even harmful.
This connects to something known as “purity culture.” That’s the idea that people are more valuable if they avoid things like sex, drinking, or breaking rules. For some, especially those raised in strict environments, this kind of thinking can bring shame or guilt. Taking a test that ranks people based on what they haven’t done? That can feel judgmental, even if it wasn’t meant to be.
Others disagree. They say the test is clearly a game. It’s not a report card. No one is forced to take it. And the questions are so random and extreme that it’s hard to take seriously. Still, even as a joke, it can leave people wondering if they’re “too innocent” or “too wild” compared to everyone else.
There’s no final answer. It depends on how the test is used—and how people react. But the debate shows that even something simple can carry a lot of meaning when it touches on personal values.
Oversimplified and Outdated? Where the Test Falls Short
Even though it’s fun, the Rice Purity Test has its flaws. One big problem is how it oversimplifies complex parts of life. It only allows “yes” or “no” answers. But real experiences don’t always fit into those boxes. What if someone tried something once and regretted it? What if they didn’t have a choice? The test doesn’t ask.
Another issue is how old the questions feel. Some items seem stuck in the past—like streaking or using a fake ID. Others ignore topics that today’s youth face, like digital dating, gender identity, or mental health. Life has changed a lot, but the test hasn’t kept up.
It also doesn’t ask why someone did something. Two people might answer “yes” to the same question but have totally different stories. One might have felt pressured. The other might have felt free. The test doesn’t leave room for that kind of context.
Because of this, some users feel misunderstood or left out. They want something that speaks to who they really are—not just what they’ve done. Until the test evolves, it will always miss part of the story.
The Role of Anonymity: Is It Safe to Share Your Score?
Online, sharing is easy. Almost too easy. And with the Rice Purity Test, that creates a tricky situation. People post their scores like it’s nothing. But is it really harmless?
Anonymity gives people the courage to be honest. That’s a big reason the test is popular. You can take it quietly. No one has to know. But once the score goes public—on a friend’s story, a Reddit thread, or a TikTok comment—the game changes. Now people might judge. Or ask questions you weren’t ready to answer.
There’s also the issue of privacy. What starts as a joke can turn personal fast. If someone gets teased or criticized for their score, that can hurt. And with so much of life online, even a small post can follow you longer than expected.
That doesn’t mean people should never share. But it does mean users should think first. Is it worth posting? Will it help or hurt? Anonymity can be powerful, but once it’s gone, it’s hard to take things back.
Teens, Trends, and Testing: Why It Still Has Buzz in 2025
Even though the Rice Purity Test is nearly a century old, it’s still going strong. That’s surprising for something so simple. But maybe that’s part of its charm. It doesn’t require a login, account, or even a name. Just check some boxes, get a score, and boom—you’re part of the trend.
Young people today are constantly under pressure. School, social media, dating, identity—it’s a lot. The Rice Purity Test gives them something light to focus on. It’s not too serious, but still personal. That balance keeps it popular, especially with teens who are figuring out who they are.
The test also fits well with trends like “tag yourself,” quizzes, and online challenges. Every few months, it pops up again in group chats or on TikTok, as a wave of new users discover it for the first time. It’s become one of those things that gets passed from generation to generation—like an internet tradition.
So, why does it still matter in 2025? Because it’s more than just a score. It’s a way for people to check in with themselves, laugh with others, and be a little bit real in a very digital world.
Memes, Reactions & TikToks: The Rice Purity Test in Pop Culture
If there’s one thing the internet loves, it’s turning something serious into something funny. That’s exactly what’s happened with the Rice Purity Test. Over time, the test has become a meme in itself. People joke about their scores, make parody versions, or react to their friends’ answers in videos.
TikTok especially has made the test part of pop culture. Users film themselves taking the test live, reacting to the “wild” questions, or comparing scores with siblings or partners. These videos rack up millions of views. Some even go viral, sparking new waves of interest.
Memes have taken over Instagram and Twitter too. Posts like “Rice Purity Test speedrun” or “Me lying on the test like…” get tons of likes because they’re so relatable. Even if someone hasn’t taken the test, they’ve probably seen a meme about it.
This pop culture spin keeps the test from feeling too heavy. It also helps people laugh at the awkward parts of growing up. By making it funny, the internet takes the edge off and makes it easier for everyone to join in—no matter what their score says.
Beyond the Score: Can the Test Spark Deeper Conversations?
It may not seem like it at first, but the Rice Purity Test can open the door to real talks. That’s one reason it keeps coming back. It gets people thinking—not just about what they’ve done, but why they did it, how they felt, and what it meant.
Some people say it helped them realize things they hadn’t talked about before. Others use it to start honest conversations with friends or partners. It’s not always deep, of course. Sometimes it’s just funny or awkward. But even those moments can lead to better understanding.
The key is how the test is used. If it’s just for judging or shaming, it misses the point. But if it’s used as a tool—to reflect, to share, or to connect—it can actually bring people closer.
In the end, the Rice Purity Test is what people make of it. It can be silly. It can be serious. It can be both. But it always has the potential to start a conversation—and that’s where real meaning begins.
Final Thoughts: Fun, Flawed, But Still Fascinating
The Rice Purity Test is strange. It’s old, a little awkward, and definitely not perfect. But somehow, it still sticks around. Maybe it’s the simplicity. Maybe it’s the honesty it pulls out of people. Or maybe it’s just fun to see how your life compares to a checklist made almost a hundred years ago.
No matter the reason, the test has become more than a quiz. It’s a piece of internet culture. It reflects how young people explore identity, talk about experiences, and search for connection. It might be outdated in parts, and it doesn’t always get things right, but it keeps starting conversations—and that counts for something.
As long as people approach it with openness, not judgment, the Rice Purity Test can still be useful. It doesn’t define anyone. It doesn’t measure worth. But it can offer a moment of reflection—or just a good laugh with friends. And in today’s world, maybe that’s enough.
FAQs About the Rice Purity Test
Q1: What does a high Rice Purity score mean?
A high score (closer to 100) means the person has done fewer things on the list. It’s often seen as more “innocent” or “pure,” but it’s not meant to be a judgment.
Q2: Can your score change over time?
Yes, absolutely. As people go through life and have new experiences, their answers will change—so their score will too.
Q3: Is the Rice Purity Test still used at Rice University?
While it’s not officially promoted, some students at Rice still take the test for fun, especially during orientation or dorm events.
Q4: Is it okay to post your Rice Purity score online?
That’s up to you. Just remember—once it’s out there, it’s public. Think before you share, especially if you’re not ready for comments or jokes from others.
I’m Emma Rose, the founder of tryhardguides.co.uk, and a content creator with a passion for writing across multiple niches—including health, lifestyle, tech, career, and personal development. I love turning complex ideas into relatable, easy-to-digest content that helps people learn, grow, and stay inspired. Whether I’m sharing practical tips or diving into thought-provoking topics, my goal is always to add real value and connect with readers on a deeper level.