The Official Rice Purity Test: What “Official” Really Means
If you have searched for the official rice purity test, you probably want two things: the real quiz, and an honest answer about what “official” even means here. You can take the free quiz right now at ricepurityscorechecker.com. But before you start checking boxes, it helps to know where this test comes from and why no one can quite agree on which version counts as the genuine one.
The short answer: there is no official certifying body for the Rice Purity Test. There never has been. But there is an original, and its story starts at Rice University in 1924.
Is There an Official Rice Purity Test?
Strictly speaking, no. Unlike standardized exams, the Rice Purity Test has no governing organization, no trademark holder, and no board that approves versions. IDRlabs, which hosts one well-known version of the test, says this plainly on its test page: it is “not an official test or survey” and “no formal organization oversees it.”
So when websites call their quiz the “official” test, that is a marketing label, not a certification. Still, not every claim to the title is equally credible. Some versions trace directly back to the original publisher, and one of them is widely treated as the closest thing to the real deal.
Who Publishes It? The Rice Thresher’s Role
The Rice Purity Test was created by the Rice Thresher, the student newspaper of Rice University in Houston, Texas. That gives it a genuine institutional origin, even if the newspaper never set up a formal body to police the test.
The closest thing to an official version is the one hosted at ricepuritytest.com, which is associated with the Thresher. A 2017 article in the Thresher itself referred to that site as the “official” online version of the test and reported that it had received 1,524,204 visits in the year before August 2017. That combination of student-newspaper origin and the paper’s own endorsement is why many people treat the Thresher-hosted version as the standard against which copycats are judged.
The Real History, Verified
The test’s history is genuinely interesting, and it can be traced through Thresher archives and coverage rather than internet rumor. Here is the timeline that holds up:
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1924 | The Rice Thresher publishes the first “purity test” on March 7, 1924, in a piece titled “Rice Girls Not Quite Half Bad.” It has 10 questions, is aimed at the 119 female undergraduates, and the reported average score is 62. |
| 1974 | The Thresher revives the test on its satirical Backpage, again with 10 questions. |
| 1988 | A hundred-question version appears, using “MOS” (member of the opposite sex) in its questions. |
| 1998 | The test is cleaned up: “MOS” becomes “MPS” (member of the preferred sex), and questions about sexual crimes are removed. |
| 2011 | The Thresher declines to run the test, a sign of growing unease with it. |
| 2012 | A new version is created by Anthony Lauriello. |
| 2020-2021 | The test resurges in popularity on TikTok, introducing it to a new generation. |
Note what is left out: many websites cite precise statistics like an average score of 61.46 or 63, or claim tens of millions of tests taken. These figures appear on copycat sites without sourcing. This article does not repeat them, because they cannot be verified.
The 100-Question Version Explained
The classic version has 100 questions. You start with a score of 100 and lose one point for every box you check. There is no weighting and no trick scoring: each checked answer costs exactly one point. Your final score lands somewhere between 0 and 100.
The questions escalate. Early ones cover mild experiences like holding hands or a first kiss. Later ones move through dating, relationships, parties, and eventually topics involving sex, alcohol, and lawbreaking. Question 69 is famously just a single question mark, which has puzzled (and amused) test-takers for years.
A few terms worth knowing:
- MPS stands for “member of the preferred sex.” It replaced the older “MOS” (member of the opposite sex) in the 1998 revision.
- “Checked every box” scores are extremely rare. A score of 0 means you checked all 100 questions.
- A perfect 100 means you checked nothing at all.
For a deeper breakdown of what different score ranges suggest, see our guide to Rice Purity Test score meaning. And for the full backstory, our history of the Rice Purity Test covers the details.
Real vs Fake: How to Spot Copycat Versions
Because no official body controls the test, copycats are everywhere. Many are harmless, but some change questions, add tracking, or invent fake statistics to look authoritative. Here is how to tell the genuine article from a knockoff:
- Check the source. Versions connected to the Rice Thresher, such as the one at ricepuritytest.com, have the strongest claim to authenticity. IDRlabs also hosts a clearly labeled, transparent version.
- Look for the classic format. The authentic test has 100 questions, starts at 100, subtracts one per checked box, and uses the MPS abbreviation. Question 69 is a lone question mark.
- Be skeptical of statistics. If a site claims a specific average score or a huge number of responses but cites no source, treat that as decoration, not data. This is one of the most common ways copycats dress themselves up as official.
- Watch for changed questions. Some sites quietly rewrite or add questions. The 1998 Thresher revision deliberately removed questions about sexual crimes; a version that still includes them is either older or carelessly copied.
- Read the fine print. Honest hosts, like IDRlabs, openly state that the test is unofficial. A site that loudly insists it is the “only official” test without explaining its connection to the Thresher deserves scrutiny.
Updated and New Versions
People often search for a “rice purity test updated” or “new rice purity test,” usually meaning one of two things: a recent refresh of the questions, or simply the current version hosted online.
The honest answer is that the 100-question format stabilized in the late 1980s and was refined in 1998 and again in 2012. Since the TikTok resurgence of 2020-2021, dozens of sites have repackaged the test with modern design, but the underlying questions remain close to the Thresher versions. There is no single “2025 edition” released by an official body, because no such body exists. When a site advertises an “updated” test, it usually means an updated website, not an updated questionnaire.
What Your Score Means
Score interpretation is loose by design. The test is a conversation starter, not a measurement instrument. Broadly:
- 90-100: Very few experiences checked. Common among younger test-takers.
- 70-89: A mix of typical teenage and college experiences.
- 50-69: A broader range of experiences.
- 30-49: Many boxes checked.
- 0-29: Nearly everything checked.
These ranges are descriptive, not diagnostic. A low score does not mean anything about your character, values, or worth, and a high score does not either. If you want more detail, our score meaning guide walks through each range.
Why It Is Controversial
It would be incomplete to cover this test without mentioning the criticism. The test has been called controversial, including in 2022 coverage by The Independent, and its history at Rice includes real pushback:
- In 2017, Jones College banned the test during O-Week (orientation week) at Rice.
- An earlier, tamer version of the test faced an O-Week ban back in 2005.
- In 2011, the Thresher itself chose not to run the test.
Critics argue that the test can pressure students, particularly new ones, into comparing experiences they would rather keep private. Supporters see it as harmless fun and a bonding ritual. Whatever your view, it is worth knowing this context before sharing your score publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official Rice Purity Test?
No official certifying body exists. The closest to official is the version associated with the Rice Thresher, the Rice University student newspaper that created the test, hosted at ricepuritytest.com.
Where can I take the real Rice Purity Test?
You can take the free 100-question quiz on ricepurityscorechecker.com, or try the Thresher-associated version at ricepuritytest.com.
Is the Rice Purity Test actually from Rice University?
It was created by the Rice Thresher, the student newspaper of Rice University, first published on March 7, 1924. It is a student-newspaper creation, not an academic or university-administered test.
How is the Rice Purity Test scored?
You start at 100 and subtract one point for each question you check. The result is a number from 0 to 100. Every question counts equally.
What is the average score on the Rice Purity Test?
No reliable, sourced average is publicly available. Many websites publish specific numbers, but these are unverified and should not be treated as facts.
Is there an updated or new Rice Purity Test?
The 100-question format was set in 1988 and revised in 1998 and 2012. Modern “updated” versions are typically redesigns of the same questionnaire rather than new official editions.
What does MPS mean in the Rice Purity Test?
MPS stands for “member of the preferred sex.” It replaced “MOS” (member of the opposite sex) in the 1998 revision.
