The History of the Rice Purity Test

The Rice Purity Test has a history that spans nearly a century. What started as a simple bonding exercise for college freshmen has become one of the internet's most famous quizzes. Here's the full story.

Who Created the Rice Purity Test?

The Rice Purity Test was created by students at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The original version is believed to have been developed around 1924 by the Student Association (now known as the Rice Student Association).

It was designed as a bonding activity for incoming students during Orientation Week, commonly called "O-Week" at Rice.

Why Was It Created?

The original purpose of the Rice Purity Test was twofold:

• Bonding: Help new students connect with their peers by sharing (or not sharing) experiences.
• Tracking: Provide a baseline score that students could compare against at graduation to see how much they "changed" during college.

The test was intentionally provocative to spark conversation and break the ice among strangers in a new environment.

Early Years: A Campus Tradition

For decades, the Rice Purity Test remained a localized tradition at Rice University. Each year, freshmen would take the test during O-Week. Advisors would sometimes read questions aloud, and students would raise their hands or remain silent, creating a memorable (and often hilarious) group experience.

The test was passed down through generations of students, occasionally updated to reflect changing times and campus culture.

The Internet Era: Going Viral

The test began to spread beyond Rice's campus with the rise of the internet in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Students from other universities discovered the test and shared it on forums, email chains, and early social media platforms.

By the 2010s, the Rice Purity Test had become a staple of internet culture. Websites hosting the test popped up, and it became a popular activity on platforms like Tumblr, Reddit, and Twitter.

TikTok and the Modern Era

The test experienced a massive resurgence with the rise of TikTok around 2019-2020. Creators began sharing their scores, comparing with friends, and reacting to questions. The hashtag #ricepuritytest accumulated hundreds of millions of views.

Today, the Rice Purity Test is taken by millions of people worldwide every year. It has transcended its origins as a Rice University tradition to become a universal part of internet culture.

How Has the Test Changed?

While the core format (100 yes/no questions, subtract 1 point per "yes") has remained consistent, the specific questions have evolved:

• Some outdated references have been removed.
• Questions have been updated to reflect modern experiences.
• Language has been made more inclusive (e.g., "member of the preferred sex").

Despite these updates, the spirit of the test—a fun, provocative self-assessment—remains unchanged from its 1924 origins.