The History of the Rice Purity Test
Last updated: May 2026
The Rice Purity Test traces back to 1924, when the Rice Thresher student newspaper at Rice University published an early version. Over the following decades it grew from a short list into the 100-question survey known today, and a social-media revival brought it to a new generation. This is its story.
The 1924 Origins
The test first appeared in 1924 in the Rice Thresher, the student newspaper at Rice University in Houston. The original was a short list of yes-or-no statements about student life, intended as a lighthearted campus exercise.
From 10 Questions to 100
Early versions held about ten questions. Over the decades, students rewrote and expanded the list many times, eventually settling on the 100-statement format that is standard today. The scoring stayed simple: 100 minus the number of statements checked.
A Campus Tradition
For much of the twentieth century, the test was a Rice tradition. New students would take it during orientation week and compare scores with peers. It functioned as an icebreaker and a piece of campus folklore rather than a serious survey.
The Social-Media Revival
In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the test spread far beyond Rice through TikTok, Twitter, and group chats. Users started sharing scores publicly, which is what made variations like the "extended" and "weighted" versions popular online.
Who Created It?
There is no single named creator. The test grew out of the Rice student community, with the Rice Thresher staff and successive generations of students reshaping it over the years. That collective authorship is part of why so many variations exist today.
Curious where you land on the modern 100-question version? You can take the test on the home page, or read what a perfect score of 100 means.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created the Rice Purity Test?
There is no single author. The earliest version was published in 1924 by the Rice Thresher, the Rice University student newspaper, and successive generations of students have edited it since.
When was the Rice Purity Test created?
An early version of the test was published in 1924. The current 100-question format developed gradually over the following decades.
Why did it become popular online?
Social platforms like TikTok and Twitter gave the test a second life in the late 2010s and early 2020s, when users began sharing scores publicly.
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