What Is the Rice Purity Test? (Simple Version)
Imagine someone made a list of 100 different things people might do in their lifetime. Some are innocent (like holding someone's hand). Some are more grown-up (like having sex). Some are risky (like running from police). A few are very extreme (things almost nobody does).
You go through the list. You tick off everything you've done. When you're finished, you count how many you ticked. Then you subtract that number from 100.
That's your purity score.
- If you ticked 0 things: score = 100 (most innocent)
- If you ticked 30 things: score = 70
- If you ticked 100 things: score = 0 (least innocent)
Higher score = fewer experiences = more "pure."
Lower score = more experiences = less "pure."
That's literally the whole thing. It's not magic, it's not science, it's not a personality test. It's a checklist with subtraction.
Why Would Anyone Do This?
Good question. The test started at a university (Rice University in Texas) as an icebreaker activity. Groups of new students would take it together at the start of the school year. Everyone would reveal their score. The differences in scores — and the conversations about why — helped people bond quickly.
Today, people take it for similar reasons:
- 🎓 College orientation icebreaker: "Let's all take it and compare!"
- 👯 Friend group activity: Who has the lowest score? The highest?
- 📱 Social media: Posting your score is a low-stakes, somewhat private way to share something personal
- 🤔 Personal reflection: Some people just want to think about their own life experiences in a structured way
Is a High Score Good or Bad?
Neither. Seriously.
Some people are proud of a high score because it means they've lived by their values and made cautious choices. Others are proud of a low score because it means they've had adventurous, varied life experiences.
The test was never designed to judge people. It was designed to spark conversation. There's no correct score to aim for. Your score simply reflects what you've done — nothing more.
Think of the score like a height measurement. It describes you, but it doesn't judge you.
Can People See What You Checked?
No. When you share your score (whether by telling a friend or posting it online), you only share the number. Nobody sees which specific questions you checked. Two people can both have a score of 60 and have checked completely different items.
On this website, your answers never leave your device. We don't store them, we don't see them, and neither does anyone else.
A Quick Example
Alex is 19, in their first year of college. They've:
- ✅ Held hands with someone they liked
- ✅ Been on a date
- ✅ Kissed someone
- ✅ Had a drink at a party
- ✅ Been in a relationship
Alex checked 5 questions.
Alex's score = 100 − 5 = 95
Label: 😇 Very Pure
Alex has had a few typical teenage experiences but is still on the high end of the scale.