Rice Purity Test Questions Explained: The 6 Categories

The Rice Purity Test's 100 questions might look like a random list, but they follow a pattern. Understanding that structure helps you answer more consistently and makes your score easier to interpret. Here's a tour of the six main categories, plus guidance on the trickiest "does this count?" questions.

How the questions are structured

Two design principles run through the whole test:

1. Grouping by theme. Questions about similar experiences sit together.
2. Mild to wild. Within each theme, questions usually start gentle and get more intense.

Every question is phrased as "Have you ever…?" and answered with a simple yes or no. Each "yes" costs one point, regardless of how mild or extreme the item is.

Category 1: Romance and dating

This is where the test begins, and it's the gentlest section. It covers milestones many people reach as teens:

• Holding hands romantically.
• Going on a date, including blind dates and dates with people met online.
• Being in a relationship.
• Kissing: on the cheek, on the lips, French kissing.
• Kissing in public, or kissing more than one person in a night.

Why it's first: these are the most common experiences, so they create a gentle on-ramp into the test.

Category 2: Intimacy

Next, the questions move beyond kissing into more intimate experiences, from cuddling with a partner to sex and its many contexts. This section also includes questions about relationships themselves, such as cheating, being cheated on, or dating two people at once.

Worth knowing: this is the section people are usually most private about. It's also why the classic test is intended for ages 17+, and why we offer a Teen version without these questions.

Category 3: Alcohol

The alcohol questions progress from simply having a drink to being drunk, drinking games, hangovers and blacking out. A few items involve the law, such as drinking under the legal age or using a fake ID.

Cultural note: drinking ages vary between countries, so the same experience may be legal for one person and not another. Answer based on where you were at the time.

Category 4: Smoking and substances

This section covers cigarettes, vaping, cigars and hookah, then cannabis, then other drugs, including taking someone else's prescription medication. It ends with buying and selling.

Why it matters for scores: many people leave most of this section unchecked, which is a big reason why scores often stay above 50.

Category 5: Rule-breaking and the law

From small acts of rebellion to serious consequences:

• Lying to parents, sneaking out, skipping class.
• Cheating on a test, shoplifting, trespassing, vandalism.
• Speeding tickets, being pulled over, being questioned by police.
• Arrests and spending a night in jail.

The gradient here is steep. Lying to your parents and being arrested are both one point, which is a good example of why the test's equal weighting can be misleading. More on that in Is the Rice Purity Test accurate?.

Category 6: Nightlife, adventure and the rest

The final category is a grab bag of bold, risky or just memorable experiences:

• Staying out all night, parties, nightclubs and raves.
• Crashing a party or getting kicked out of one.
• Traveling with friends, hitchhiking, gambling.
• Tattoos and piercings.
• Online behavior, like ghosting someone or posting something you regret.

"Does this count?" The tricky questions

Ambiguity is part of the fun, but here are some sensible rules of thumb:

What if I did something once, a long time ago?

It counts. The test asks if you have ever done something.

What if it happened but I didn't choose it?

The test is about your own experiences and choices. If something happened to you without your consent, you don't need to count it, and it says nothing about you. Please see the support resources in our safety guide.

What if it was legal where I was?

Answer the question as written. If it asks about drinking under the legal age, use the law where you were at the time.

What if I'm not sure whether it qualifies?

Go with your gut. If you have to argue with yourself about whether it counts, you'll probably remember that argument longer than the score. Consistency matters more than precision.

Do I count things I only almost did?

No. Only check items you actually did.

Why the questions get rewritten

There's no single, permanent list. The Rice Thresher, Rice University's student newspaper, has published different versions over the decades, and each one reflected student life at the time. Modern versions, including ours, include things like dating apps, vaping and social media that didn't exist in earlier eras. Our questions are written in our own words, inspired by the classic structure.

Questions on other versions

Each variation focuses on a different slice of life:

• Teen: school, parents, crushes and social media.
• College: dorms, all-nighters, parties and campus traditions.
• Couples: shared milestones and adventures.
• Clean: harmless, funny everyday moments.
• Adulting: bills, jobs and grown-up chaos.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in each category?

It varies by version. Romance and intimacy usually take up the largest share of the classic test.

Which questions do most people check?

The early romance questions and general nightlife items are the most commonly checked.

Are the questions the same on every website?

No. Different sites use different versions and wordings.

Can I suggest a question?

Yes! Send it to us through the contact page.

See the questions for yourself

The best way to understand the questions is to answer them. Take the Rice Purity Test. It takes about three minutes and your answers never leave your device.