Search for the Rice Purity Test and you'll find dozens of versions. So which one is the original?
Quick answer
The Rice Purity Test comes from the Rice Thresher, the student newspaper of Rice University, which published the first version in 1924. The 100-question test most people take today was written by the paper's Backpage editors and published in 2012. There is no single official website: Rice University doesn't run the online versions, and many sites have reworded or added questions. The classic version has 100 yes/no statements, and your score is 100 minus the number you tick.
Key takeaways
- The test began in 1924 as a 10-question survey in Rice University's student newspaper.
- Today's classic 100-question version was written by the newspaper's Backpage editors in 2012.
- Rice University does not run or endorse the online versions, so there is no single “official” site.
- A classic version has 100 statements, one point each, and no sign-up; other versions can't be compared directly.
Where the original Rice Purity Test comes from
The test started at Rice University in Houston, Texas. In 1924 the Rice Thresher, the university's student newspaper, published an informal ten-question survey of female students, with each question worth ten points. Over the following decades the paper revisited and expanded the test, including a much longer version in 1988.
According to the Rice Thresher, the version people take today was created by the paper's Backpage editors and published in 2012. That 100-question list is the one that spread online and later went viral on TikTok. For the full timeline, read the history of the Rice Purity Test.
How the test has changed
| Version | Questions | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| 1924 Rice Thresher survey | 10 | The first version: an informal survey of female students, each question worth 10 points |
| 1988 Thresher version | A much longer list | Expanded and modernised; sources disagree on whether it had 100 or 150 questions |
| Today’s classic version (from 2012) | 100 | Written by the Thresher’s Backpage editors; one point per statement, score from 100 to 0 |
| Online copies and “new” versions | Usually 100, sometimes more | Reworded, reordered or updated with modern items; some use different scoring |
Is there an official Rice Purity Test website?
No. Rice University has never run or endorsed the online versions of the test, and the Rice Thresher publishes its own version separately. Every website offering the test, including this one, is independent. This site is not affiliated with Rice University; you can read more on our About page.
What makes a “classic” version
Because the test has been copied so many times, versions online can differ. A version that follows the classic format usually has:
- Exactly 100 yes/no statements, covering romance, intimacy, substances, rule-breaking and the law, and general life experiences.
- One point per statement, so your score is simply 100 minus the number you tick.
- A score from 100 to 0, where a higher number means fewer of the listed experiences.
- No sign-up and no need to share your answers.
The test on this site follows that classic format: 100 statements in five categories (Romance 15, Intimacy 43, Substances 10, Legal 10 and Experiences 22), and your answers stay in your browser. See all 100 questions explained for what each one covers.
What about “new” versions?
Some sites have made new versions with modern items, extra questions or different scoring, and quizzes like the “innocence test” use their own lists entirely. These can be fun, but they are different tests. A score from a new or modified version can't be compared directly with a classic Rice Purity score. Read Rice Purity Test vs other purity tests for how they differ.
How to tell which version you're taking
- Count the statements. The classic version has 100, no more and no fewer.
- Check the scoring. Each ticked statement should take exactly one point off 100.
- Look for sign-up walls. The classic test never needs an account, an email address or your answers to be shared.
- Use the same version as your friends if you want to compare scores fairly.
Once you have your number, our guide to what your score means explains each range, and is the Rice Purity Test accurate? covers what the score can and can't tell you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the original Rice Purity Test?
It began as a ten-question survey published by the Rice Thresher, Rice University's student newspaper, in 1924. The 100-question version most people take today was written by the paper's Backpage editors and published in 2012.
Is there an official Rice Purity Test website?
No. Rice University doesn't run or endorse the online versions, so every website offering the test is independent.
How many questions are in the original Rice Purity Test?
The very first 1924 version had 10 questions. Today's classic version has 100 yes/no statements.
Is there a new Rice Purity Test?
Some websites have made new or updated versions with extra or modern questions, but they are different tests and their scores can't be compared directly with the classic version.
Is the test on this site the original?
This site uses the classic 100-question format with one point per statement. Like every online version, it is independent and not run by Rice University.
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.
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