The Rice Purity Test isn't the only purity test out there. Here's how it compares with the others, old and new.
Quick answer
The Rice Purity Test is the best-known purity test: 100 yes/no statements, scored from 100 down to 0, with roots in a 1924 survey by Rice University's student newspaper. Other purity tests have existed since the 1930s, from short campus versions to lists of up to 2,000 questions, and many modern “innocence tests” use their own questions and scoring. Because the lists differ, scores from different tests can't be compared directly.
Key takeaways
- A purity test is a list of yes/no questions that gives a “purity” score; 100 questions is the most common length.
- The Rice version dates back to 1924 and became the standard thanks to its simple 0–100 scale and the internet.
- Other versions range from 20-question campus tests in the 1930s to a 2,000-question book.
- Only compare scores taken on the same version of the test.
What counts as a “purity test”?
A purity test is a questionnaire of yes/no questions about experiences such as dating, intimacy, alcohol and breaking rules. Each “yes” lowers your result, and the final number is presented as how “pure” you are. The number of questions varies from test to test, though 100 is the most common length.
Despite the name, none of these tests measure character. They count experiences, which is why we explain in is the Rice Purity Test accurate? that the score is a fun snapshot rather than a verdict.
The Rice Purity Test in short
The Rice Purity Test traces back to 1924, when the Rice Thresher, the student newspaper of Rice University in Houston, Texas, published an informal ten-question survey of female students. The paper revised the test over the years, including a much longer 1988 version, and the 100-question format is the one that spread online and later went viral on TikTok.
The classic version on this site has 100 statements in five categories: Romance (15), Intimacy (43), Substances (10), Legal (10) and Experiences (22). Your score is 100 minus the number you tick. For the full story, read the history of the Rice Purity Test, and for every statement in plain English, see all 100 questions explained.
Other purity tests through history
Rice wasn't the only campus with a purity test. Records of other versions include:
- Barnard College (1935): a campus-wide test reported in Columbia University's humour magazine.
- University of Toronto (1936): a 20-question test where marks were taken off for things like smoking, drinking and kissing, giving a “purity ratio”.
- Indiana University (1939): a “Virtue Test”, later reprinted in a 1975 book on office folklore.
- Caltech: an “Official Purity Test”, reprinted in the same book.
- A 1966 advice column: a purity test printed in a newspaper advice column later caused controversy when a teacher handed it out in a Texas high school.
- A 2,000-question book (2009): The Purity Test by Joselin Linder turned the idea into a much longer list.
Purity tests also moved online early: versions were circulating on computer networks around 1980, and the first web-based purity test appeared in 1994.
Modern online purity and “innocence” tests
Today you'll find many quizzes calling themselves a purity test or an “innocence test”. Some use the classic Rice questions; others write their own lists, change the number of questions, or give you a percentage, a label or a “level” instead of a score out of 100. Some are made for friends or couples, and some ask you to sign in or share your answers.
None of these are wrong to take for fun, but they are different tests. A 70 on one quiz doesn't mean the same as a 70 on another.
How they compare at a glance
| Type of test | Questions | Scoring | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Purity Test (classic version) | 100 yes/no statements in 5 categories | 100 minus the number you tick (0–100) | Rice University student newspaper, from 1924 |
| Early campus purity tests (1930s) | Short lists, e.g. 20 questions | Points taken off a total, given as a “purity ratio” | Other colleges, such as Barnard and Toronto |
| Long-form purity lists | Hundreds of questions, up to 2,000 | Usually a percentage | Student and internet folklore, later a book |
| Online “innocence” and purity quizzes | Varies widely | Percentage, label or level, depending on the site | Modern websites and social apps |
Why the Rice version became the standard
- A simple scale. Starting at 100 and losing one point per statement is easy to understand and easy to compare with friends.
- A recognisable name. The link to Rice University gave the test a clear identity as other versions came and went.
- The internet and TikTok. The 100-question list was easy to share, first on early websites and later in viral videos.
Which purity test should you take?
If you want a score you can compare with friends, partners or the averages people talk about online, take the classic 100-question Rice Purity Test. Whichever quiz you choose, it's worth checking that:
- You can see every question before you answer.
- The scoring is clear, so you know what your number means.
- Your answers stay private. On this site the test runs in your browser and your answers are never stored.
- Everyone uses the same version if you plan to compare scores.
Once you have your number, our guide to what your score means explains each range.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rice Purity Test the original purity test?
It is the best-known one, with roots in a 1924 survey by Rice University's student newspaper. Other campuses had their own purity tests from the 1930s, so it isn't the only early version.
Is an innocence test the same as the Rice Purity Test?
Not always. Some innocence tests copy the classic Rice questions, while others use their own lists and scoring, so results aren't directly comparable.
How many questions does a purity test have?
It varies. The Rice Purity Test has 100, early campus tests had around 10 to 20, and one book version has 2,000. 100 is the most common length.
Can I compare my score from a different purity test?
Only if both tests use the same questions and scoring. Otherwise the numbers measure different things.
Which purity test is the most popular?
The 100-question Rice Purity Test is by far the most widely shared, especially since it went viral on TikTok.
Ready to check your own score? Take the Rice Purity Test: 100 questions, instant results, completely anonymous.
Sources
- “Purity test”, Wikipedia.
- “Purity Test evolves, spreads beyond Rice”, The Rice Thresher (Rice University student newspaper), August 2017.
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