The Rice Purity Test on TikTok: Why a 100-Year-Old Quiz Went Viral
Score reveals, "guess my score" videos and couples' reactions. Here's how the Rice Purity Test found a new generation on TikTok, and why the format is perfect for social media.
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For most of its history, the Rice Purity Test lived on a college campus. Then, around 2020, it exploded on TikTok. Suddenly millions of people who had never heard of Rice University were posting their scores. What happened?
A perfect fit for short video
Some trends feel like they were designed for a platform before it existed. The Rice Purity Test is one of them. It has everything a viral format needs:
- A single number. Easy to reveal, easy to remember, easy to compare.
- Built-in suspense. "Guess my score" practically writes itself.
- Universal relevance. Everyone has a score, even if they've never taken the test.
- Low effort. It takes three minutes, then the video takes thirty seconds.
- Room for humor. Shock, embarrassment and pride all make great reactions.
The most popular video formats
The score reveal
The simplest format: a creator shows their screen, pauses dramatically and reveals their number. Comments fill up with people sharing their own scores.
"Guess my score"
Creators ask viewers to guess their score from their appearance, voice or vibe, then reveal it in a follow-up video. It invites interaction and keeps people coming back.
Couples and friends react
Two people take the test separately and reveal their scores to each other on camera. The reactions, from surprise to laughter to mock outrage, are what make it entertaining. (If you want to try this with a partner, read our guide to taking the test as a couple first.)
Parents vs. kids
A sweet variation: parents and their adult children compare scores. The generational differences can be hilarious.
Score stereotypes
Skits acting out what a "99 person" or a "30 person" is supposedly like. These are pure comedy and shouldn't be taken seriously, but they've helped spread the test even further.
The psychology of sharing a score
Why do people share something so personal with strangers? A few reasons:
- Belonging. Seeing others with similar scores feels validating.
- Self-presentation. A score lets people signal "I'm innocent" or "I've lived" without saying it directly.
- Curiosity. We're naturally interested in how we compare to others.
- Low stakes. It's a number, not a story. You can share it without sharing details.
The downsides of the trend
The trend isn't all harmless fun. A few concerns are worth knowing about:
- Pressure on younger users. The classic test includes mature questions, but TikTok's audience includes teenagers. That's why age-appropriate versions like the Teen Purity Test exist.
- Judgment in the comments. Score reveals can attract mean comments in both directions, mocking high scores as "boring" or shaming low ones.
- Oversharing. Some creators reveal specific answers, which can follow them for years.
- Competition. Treating the score like a challenge to lower can push people toward things they don't actually want to do.
How to join the trend safely
If you want to post your score, a few tips:
- Share the number, not the details. Your individual answers are nobody's business.
- Use the right version. Under 17? Take the Teen or Clean test.
- Ignore the haters. No score deserves mockery. The test was designed to bring people together.
- Use a share image. Our test lets you save a clean score card image, so you don't need to screen-record your answers.
Will the trend last?
Trends come and go, but the Rice Purity Test has survived for a century. It adapted from newspaper pages to orientation weeks to websites to short videos. Whatever the next platform is, there's a good chance someone will be revealing their purity score on it.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Rice Purity Test go viral on TikTok?
The test saw a big surge in popularity on TikTok around 2020, and it has resurfaced in waves since.
What does it mean when someone posts their Rice Purity score?
They're sharing how many of the test's 100 experiences they haven't had. A higher number means fewer checked items.
Is it safe to post my score online?
Sharing only the number is generally low-risk. Avoid sharing your individual answers.
What's a "good" score to post?
There's no such thing. Post whatever your honest score is, or don't post at all.
Your turn
Ready for your own reveal? Take the Rice Purity Test, then use the Save image button to get a shareable score card for your story.
