Let’s be honest, you just took the Rice Purity Test, and the number staring back at you is 50 or below. Maybe your stomach did a little flip. Maybe you laughed it off. Maybe you’re genuinely curious about what this score says about you as a person.
Here’s the thing: you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not “bad.”
Millions of people take the Rice Purity Test every year, including college students, curious teenagers, and adults revisiting it for fun. And a huge chunk of them land somewhere in that 50-or-below range. So before you spiral into self-judgment or start comparing yourself to your friends, take a breath.
This post is going to walk you through exactly what a Rice Purity Test score of 50 or below actually means, why it doesn’t define you, and what, if anything, you should do with that number. No shame, no lectures, just honest conversation.
What Is the Rice Purity Test, Anyway?
If someone forwarded you the link and you jumped straight to taking it, here’s a quick background.
The Rice Purity Test is a self-graded survey that originated at Rice University in Houston, Texas. It started as a way for college students to bond and break the ice in a fun, slightly edgy way to compare life experiences.
The test has 100 questions covering a wide range of experiences from something as innocent as holding hands to more adult topics involving relationships, substances, and legal situations. Each “yes” answer lowers your score. So the lower your score, the more experiences you’ve checked off the list.
A perfect score is 100 (completely “pure” by the test’s standards). A score of 0 would mean you’ve done literally everything on the list, which is rare and honestly sounds exhausting.
Most people fall somewhere in the middle. But scores of 50 or below put you in a category that a lot of people have questions about.
What Does a Score of 50 or Below Actually Mean?
Let’s get real here. A score of 50 or below means you’ve answered “yes” to at least 50 of the 100 questions on the test. That’s it. That’s the mathematical reality.
But what does it mean about YOU as a person?
Honestly? Less than you might think.
It Means You’ve Lived Some Life
A lower score often reflects someone who has had more varied life experiences, whether that’s romantic relationships, social adventures, travel, college parties, or just growing up faster than some peers. It doesn’t mean those experiences were wrong or harmful. It just means they happened.
Think about it this way: a 35-year-old who has been married, traveled the world, tried new things, and lived fully might score very low. Does that make them a worse person than a sheltered 19-year-old with a score of 90? Of course not.
It Means the Test Worked As Designed
The Rice Purity Test was literally designed to capture a wide spectrum of human experiences. If you score low, you’ve simply had more of those experiences, some wild, some ordinary, some deeply personal. The test isn’t a morality meter. It never was.
It Might Mean You’re at a Certain Life Stage
College students, young adults in their mid-20s, and people who have been in long-term relationships often score lower. That’s natural. Life accumulates experiences. A 22-year-old who has dated a few people, been to college parties, and experimented with their identity is going to score differently than a 16-year-old who just started high school.
That’s not a flaw. That’s just life.
Common Feelings After Getting a Low Score
A lot of people feel a rush of emotions after seeing a low number pop up. Let’s talk about the most common ones because you’re probably feeling at least one of them right now.
“Am I a bad person?”
No. A quiz cannot measure your goodness as a human being. Kindness, empathy, loyalty, and honesty none of those things show up in the Rice Purity Test. The test doesn’t ask if you’ve volunteered, supported a friend through a tough time, or worked hard to grow as a person. Those things matter infinitely more.
“Should I be embarrassed?”
Only if you want to be, but there’s genuinely no reason to be. Experiences don’t equal shame. You get to decide what your experiences mean to you.
“What will my friends think?”
Here’s a fun reality check: most people who share their scores and compare with friends end up laughing about it together. The Rice Purity Test is, at its heart, a social bonding tool. It’s meant to spark conversation, not judgment.
“Does this say something about my future?”
Nope. Your past experiences don’t lock you into any kind of future. People change. People grow. The things you’ve done before don’t dictate who you’ll be tomorrow.
Score Ranges: A Simple Breakdown
Here’s a quick, no-judgment look at what different score ranges tend to suggest — just in terms of life experience:
76–100: The Innocent Zone. Very few to no “edgy” experiences. Usually, younger people or those with conservative upbringings. Often sheltered in a good way, nothing wrong here.
51–75: The Average Range. Most people land here. A mix of some experiences, some adventures, and a lot of normal life moments. Comfortable middle ground.
26–50: The Experienced Zone. This is where a score of 50 or below starts. You’ve had a fuller range of experiences, relationships, social situations, maybe some risky moments. You’ve lived, and you’re probably the person your friends come to for real-world advice.
0–25: The Wild Card Zone. Very few people land here. If you did, you’ve had an extremely varied range of experiences. Whether that was by choice, circumstance, or a particularly adventurous season of life, only you know the full story.
What You Should Do With a Score of 50 or Below
So you’ve got the number. Now what? Here are some genuinely practical things to do with it:
1. Use It as a Conversation Starter (In the Right Setting)
The Rice Purity Test is GREAT for icebreakers, dorm nights, friend group hangouts, and first dates if you’re both into that kind of fun conversation. Compare scores, laugh about the unexpected ones, and let it spark a genuine connection.
Just read the room. You don’t need to share your score with your boss, your parents, or anyone who didn’t ask.
2. Reflect Without Judgment
If a particular question made you pause, maybe something you regret, or something you’re proud of, use that as a moment of honest reflection. Not to beat yourself up, but to check in with yourself.
Ask yourself:
- Is there anything I want to do differently going forward?
- Am I living in line with my own values?
- Are there experiences I want more of or less of?
That kind of reflection is genuinely valuable. The test just happens to be the trigger.
3. Stop Comparing Scores Competitively
This is where things can go sideways. When a low score becomes a badge of honor (“I’m wilder than you!”) or a source of shame (“I’m such a mess”), that’s when the test stops being fun.
Your score is your story. Someone else’s score is theirs. They don’t cancel each other out.
4. Remember: It’s a Snapshot, Not a Sentence
The Rice Purity Test captures a moment in time. If you took it three years ago, your score would probably be different today. And three years from now? Different again.
You’re not stuck with who you’ve been. You’re always in the process of becoming.
5. If Something Bothers You, Address It, Not the Score
If taking the test made you realize there are some patterns in your life you’re not happy with, whether that’s relationship choices, substance use, risky behavior, or anything else that’s worth paying attention to.
Not because your score is “too low,” but because YOU want something different for yourself. Talk to a friend, a counselor, a therapist. The score doesn’t need fixing. Sometimes your habits or patterns might — and that’s okay. That’s being human.
Real Talk: Famous and Successful People Would Score Low, Too
Here’s something nobody says enough: basically every interesting, accomplished, deeply human person you admire would probably score low on this test.
Think about writers, artists, activists, entrepreneurs, and athletes. People who have lived fully, made mistakes, learned lessons, loved people, traveled the world, pushed boundaries, and shaped their own paths. They didn’t get there by avoiding experiences.
A lower Rice Purity Test score doesn’t mean you’re reckless or broken. It often means you’ve been present in your own life, curious, adventurous, sometimes messy, but genuinely alive.
A Note on Younger Readers
If you’re in your teens and you got a low score, here’s something honest and kind: some experiences have better timing than others. The test doesn’t tell you that, but life eventually does.
There’s no rush to have every experience as fast as possible. Some things are better with time, maturity, and the right people around you. A low score at a young age isn’t the end of the world, but it can be a good moment to check in with yourself about your choices and whether they’re genuinely yours.
You’re allowed to take your time. You’re allowed to change your mind. And you’re allowed to be proud of exactly who you are right now.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is a score of 50 or below on the Rice Purity Test bad?
Not at all. A low score simply means you’ve had more of the experiences the test covers. It’s not a measure of character, morality, or worth. Plenty of wonderful, kind, successful people score low.
What’s the average Rice Purity Test score?
Most studies and self-reported data suggest the average falls somewhere between 55 and 75 for college-aged adults. A score of 50 is below average by that standard, but “average” doesn’t mean better or worse; it’s just a reference point.
Should I retake the test to see if my score changes?
Sure, if it’s fun for you! Many people retake it after a year or two and compare scores as a way of looking back on how life has changed. Just don’t take the number too seriously either way.
What if I lied on the test to get a lower (or higher) score?
It happens more than you’d think. Some people score lower to seem more experienced; others score higher to seem more “innocent.” But the test only means something if you answer it honestly, and even then, it means less than you probably think. The only person you’d be fooling is yourself.
Can a low Rice Purity Test score affect my reputation?
Only if you share it publicly and care what others think. In real life, your reputation is built on how you treat people, how you show up, and the kind of person you are day to day. A quiz score has zero power over that.
Conclusion
Here’s the bottom line: a Rice Purity Test score of 50 or below is just a number. It’s a fun, sometimes thought-provoking snapshot of your life experiences. It’s not a verdict, a warning label, or a life sentence.
What matters is what you do with the reflection it sparks. Are you living in a way that feels true to you? Are you making choices you can stand behind? Are you learning from the messy parts and growing from them?
If yes, your score doesn’t matter one bit.
If the test made you think about something you want to change, that’s valuable. Not because you scored “too low,” but because self-awareness is one of the most powerful things a person can develop.
So whether your number is 48, 32, or 17, you’re still a full, complex, worthy human being with a story that no 100-question quiz could ever fully capture.
Take the score, smile (or laugh, or cringe a little), and then go live your life on your own terms. That’s the real goal.