Is the Rice Purity Test accurate?
It accurately counts how many of 100 things you have done. Anything beyond that is reading into it.
What it measures well
If you tick honestly, the score is an exact count: 100 minus the items you have done. Because the items run from mild to far, it also gives a rough idea of how far down the list you have gone, especially if you look at the breakdown by section rather than the single number.
What it cannot measure
- Weight. Every item is one point. One of the 2012 editors pointed out that French kissing and heroin cost the same, and that someone who never drinks but commits crimes could out-score an average student[1].
- Context. One kiss and a long relationship look the same to the list.
- Character. "Purity" is a loaded word. One of the editors who wrote the 2012 version asked what purity even means[1].
- Anyone else. There is no reliable average to compare against. What the sources say.
Honesty is the biggest variable
Nothing stops anyone from ticking less or more than they did, and in a group people often do. Taking it alone, on a page that stores nothing, is the most accurate way to take it.
Different versions, slightly different scores
The Thresher's 2012 list, ours and the dozens of copies online differ in wording and sometimes in items. Scores can differ slightly between versions.
Take the test and look at the section breakdown: it tells you more than the headline number.
Ready? Take the Rice Purity Test. Your answers never leave your device.
Sources
- Anthony Lauriello, "Release of new purity test long overdue", The Rice Thresher, 17 August 2012. Link