Got your number and not sure whether to be pleased or worried? Here's what a high or low Rice Purity score really means.
Quick answer
On the Rice Purity Test, a higher score means you have done fewer of the 100 listed experiences, and a lower score means you have done more. Neither is better. The test counts experiences; it doesn't measure character, so there is no “bad” score. The highest possible score is 100 and the lowest is 0. Your score can only go down over time, never up.
Key takeaways
- A high score means fewer of the listed experiences; a low score means more.
- Neither is better or worse: the test counts experiences, not who you are.
- The lowest possible score is 0 and the highest is 100.
- What's typical depends a lot on your age, so compare with people your own age.
High vs low: what your number means
The test starts you at 100. For each of the 100 statements you tick, you lose one point. So your score is simply 100 minus the number of things on the list you have done.
- A high score (for example 85 or above) means you have done relatively few of the listed experiences.
- A low score (for example below 50) means you have done many of them.
That's all the number tells you. It doesn't say whether those experiences were good or bad, how long ago they happened, or anything about your values.
Is a higher Rice Purity score better?
No. A higher score isn't better and a lower score isn't worse. The name “purity test” makes it sound like a grade, but the test was created as a light-hearted questionnaire in a student newspaper, not as a measure of morality.
Whether a score feels “high” or “low” mostly depends on your age and the people around you. A score that is typical for a first-year student can look very different from one that is typical at 25. Our guide to average rice purity score by age shows how scores change over the years.
What counts as a “bad” Rice Purity score?
There isn't one. A low score only means you have done more of the things on the list. Many of them, like going on a date or staying up all night, are ordinary parts of growing up.
If your score bothers you, it can help to look at the statements behind it rather than the number. If any of them involved pressure, harm or something you didn't want, that matters far more than any score, and talking to someone you trust can help. For what the low ranges mean in detail, see rice purity score below 50.
What is the lowest possible Rice Purity score?
The lowest possible score is 0, which means ticking all 100 statements. The highest is 100, which means ticking none. You can't go below 0 or above 100.
Because every experience you have stays on the list, your score can only stay the same or go down over time. It never goes back up.
Rice Purity score ranges at a glance
| Score | Label on this site | What it means | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95–100 | Pure Soul | You have done very few of the listed experiences | 90–99 guide |
| 80–94 | Mostly Innocent | A handful of the experiences, often the milder ones | 80–89 guide |
| 60–79 | Moderately Experienced | A mix of experiences across several categories | 70–79 guide |
| 40–59 | Experienced | Many of the listed experiences | 50–59 guide |
| 0–39 | Adventurous | Most of the listed experiences | below 50 guide |
Before you compare scores
- Use the same version of the test. Some sites change the questions or the scoring, so scores aren't always comparable. Read which version is the original.
- Compare with people your own age, not with a single “average” number.
- Remember it's self-reported. Scores shared online are often rounded or shared for fun. Read is the Rice Purity Test accurate? for more.
For a fuller breakdown of every range, see what your score means and what is a good rice purity score?
Frequently asked questions
Is a high Rice Purity score good?
A high score means you have done fewer of the listed experiences. It isn't better or worse than a low score; it just reflects a different set of experiences.
What is a bad Rice Purity score?
There is no bad score. The test counts experiences rather than judging character, so a low score only means you have done more of the things on the list.
What is the lowest possible Rice Purity score?
The lowest possible score is 0, which means ticking all 100 statements. The highest is 100.
What is considered a low Rice Purity score?
Scores below 50 are usually described as low, meaning you have done more than half of the listed experiences.
Can my Rice Purity score go up?
No. Your score can only stay the same or go down over time, because experiences you have had stay on the list.
Ready to check your own score? Take the Rice Purity Test: 100 questions, instant results, completely anonymous.
Sources
- “Purity Test evolves, spreads beyond Rice”, The Rice Thresher (Rice University student newspaper), August 2017.
- “Purity test”, Wikipedia.
Related articles
Ready to find out your score?
Take the original Rice Purity Test — 100 questions, instant results, completely free and anonymous.
Take the Rice Purity Test now →