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What Is the Rice Purity Test?
The Rice Purity Test is a 100-question self-graded survey designed to measure a person's "innocence" based on various life experiences, including romance, physical intimacy, alcohol and drug use, and encounters with law enforcement. You check every experience you've had, and your score is calculated as 100 minus the number of items checked.
Originally created at Rice University in Houston, Texas — with roots as far back as a 10-question version published in the Rice Thresher student newspaper in 1924 — it became a popular social bonding activity during college orientation weeks. Today it is widely taken online by millions of people around the world.
The earliest known version appeared in the Rice Thresher in March 1924. That original survey had only 10 questions and was administered to female undergraduates. Over the decades it was expanded and revised multiple times. By 1988, a 100-question version had become the standard. An official website was created by the Rice Thresher newspaper staff in 2012.
The test has historically served, in the words of the Thresher, as "a segue from O-week to true college life at Rice" — a voluntary bonding opportunity for orientation groups.
Our site is not affiliated with Rice University or the Rice Thresher student newspaper. The Rice Purity Test is a widely known cultural tradition that has circulated publicly for decades. We are an independent utility site providing a clean, fast, and privacy-respecting way to take the test online. We make no claim to be the "official" version.
Our version has 100 questions — the standard count established by the 1988 revision and maintained in all major versions since. Some sites use fewer questions; scores from those versions are not directly comparable to this test.
How Is the Score Calculated?
The formula is: Score = 100 − (number of checked items). Every question you answer "yes" to reduces your score by exactly 1 point. Questions are equally weighted — no question is worth more or less than another.
For full details, see the Methodology page.
The highest possible score is 100, achieved by checking zero questions. This means you have none of the 100 listed experiences. It is a valid score, most often seen among very young people or those who have genuinely had no applicable experiences.
The lowest possible score is 0, achieved by checking all 100 questions. The test itself jokes that "completion of all items will likely result in death." A score of 0 is extremely rare and statistically unusual.
Several reasons: (1) different question counts (some sites use fewer than 100), (2) different question wording or different questions entirely, (3) some sites use weighted scoring, (4) different interpretation labels for the same score. Our test uses 100 equally-weighted questions. See the Methodology page for our exact implementation.
What Does My Score Mean?
There is no universally "good" or "bad" score. Higher scores indicate fewer life experiences (more "pure"); lower scores indicate more experiences. Neither is morally superior. The test is a social curiosity tool, not a character judgment. What matters is that your answers are honest.
That said, the typical range for college-age adults falls roughly between 45 and 90. Very high scores (above 95) are common among teenagers; very low scores (below 30) are uncommon at any age.
There is no single verified average, as results vary widely by age, background, and culture. Based on widely circulated online discussions, reported averages tend to cluster between 55 and 75 for college-age adults, with higher averages among younger teens (often 80–95) and lower averages among older adults with more diverse life experience.
See our Average Score page for a deeper discussion.
Absolutely not. The test measures whether you've had certain experiences — not whether you're a good or bad person. Many low-score experiences (like drinking alcohol, having consensual sex, or being questioned by police) are morally neutral or contextually normal. The test was never designed as a morality scale.
Is It Safe and Accurate?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your answers, your checked items, and your score are never sent to any server, never stored in any database, and never shared with any third party. When you close the browser tab, everything is gone. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
The score calculation is mathematically accurate — it correctly counts checked items and computes the result. However, "accuracy" in a deeper sense depends entirely on your honesty. The test is self-graded with no verification. Its interpretation (what score labels mean) is a social convention, not a scientific measurement. It is not a psychological assessment or diagnostic tool.
Yes, completely free. No payment, no subscription, no sign-up, no email required. You can take it as many times as you want.
Yes. The site is designed mobile-first and works well on all screen sizes — phones, tablets, and desktops. No app download is required.
How Do I Use It?
None beyond your honest recollection of your own life experiences. Just read each of the 100 questions and click on any that apply to you. No personal information (name, age, email, etc.) is collected or required.
Yes. Simply don't check any questions you want to skip. Skipped questions are treated as "no" (unchecked), which means they don't affect your score negatively. If you're unsure, the safest approach is to leave them unchecked.
Yes. Click the Reset button to clear all answers. Since nothing is stored, every session starts fresh. Many people retake the test annually or periodically to track how their score changes over time.
The Rice Purity Test is purely a social and entertainment tool. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical, psychological, legal, or personal advice. If your answers on the test raise questions about your health, mental wellbeing, or legal situation, please consult an appropriate professional. The test result tells you nothing a qualified professional couldn't better assess. See our Disclaimer for full context.
The test contains explicit questions about sexual activity, substance use, and legal incidents. It is intended for adults (18+) and older college-age individuals. It is not appropriate for children. If you are under 18, we recommend seeking parental guidance before taking the test.