The Rice Purity Test for teens: what to know first
The test was written for college students. Lots of high school students take it anyway. If that is you, here is what to know.
What it asks about
Dating and kissing at the top, then touching, sex, alcohol, drugs, and run-ins with school and the law. The far end gets explicit. None of it is illustrated, but it is direct. You can read the full list first without ticking anything.
It already happens in high schools
The Thresher found the test passing around Houston high schools in 2017: a girls' school where scores were shared among friends, a boys' school where it went round on school iPads until people got bored, and a public school where one student said the score became part of social status[1]. The same student said that by college people cared much less about anyone's number[1].
If you are a teen
- A high score is normal. The list counts experiences, and you have had fewer years to have them. That is not a flaw.
- It is not a checklist. Many items are things people choose never to do, and some are illegal or risky at any age.
- You never have to share. Take it alone, keep the number to yourself, or skip it.
- Watch out for pressure. One student told the Thresher that scores shared in a group became "targeting information" later[1]. If a group is pushing, that says more about the group than about you.
- Nothing here is saved. Your answers never leave the page, and Clear wipes them.
If you are a parent
Your teen may already know about it; it spreads through school phones and social media[1][2]. Banning it rarely makes it disappear. Reading the list together, or asking what they think of it, gives you a calm opening to talk about consent, pressure and privacy. Points worth making:
- A number does not measure anyone's worth, in either direction.
- Sharing scores can lead to gossip and pressure; keeping it private is fine.
- The items about substances and the law are not jokes in real life.
A version without the sex questions
If you want the fun of a 100-question score without the explicit items, take our Innocence Test. It covers crushes, school, home, online life and parties, with nothing about sex beyond kissing.
Critics of the test
Some students and writers argue the test does more harm than good, especially for young people. Read the arguments.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rice Purity Test appropriate for a 14 year old?
It was written for college students and asks directly about sex, drugs and crime. Many high school students take it anyway. If you do, a very high score at 14 is completely normal and the test is not a list of things to catch up on.
Is there a clean version for teens?
Yes. Our Innocence Test has 100 questions with nothing about sex beyond kissing. The Thresher does not publish a clean version of its own.
Ready? Take the Rice Purity Test. Your answers never leave your device.