What Does MPS Mean on the Rice Purity Test? Full Explanation + Complete Glossary

MPS stands for Member of Preferred Sex. That is the complete definition of MPS in the context of the Rice Purity Test.

In plain language: MPS means the person you are romantically or sexually attracted to. When a Rice Purity Test question mentions MPS, substitute it with whoever that person is for you — regardless of your gender or theirs. The test uses MPS so that every question applies to everyone, no matter their sexual orientation.

But there is more to understand than just the acronym. This page covers what MPS means in each type of question, which questions on the test actually use MPS, why the test uses this term instead of simpler language, and how to answer MPS questions if you are not sure. It also includes a complete glossary of every other confusing term on the Rice Purity Test — because MPS is far from the only one people search for.

MPS — Full Definition and Meaning

Member of Preferred Sex is a gender-neutral abbreviation used in the Rice Purity Test to make romantic and physical intimacy questions inclusive for all sexual orientations. The full phrase unpacks as follows:

Member — a person (one individual)

of Preferred — that you prefer, are attracted to, or are romantically interested in

Sex — gender or sex, referring to the gender you are attracted to

Put together: MPS refers to any person you are attracted to, regardless of what gender they are or what gender you are. A straight woman’s MPS is a man. A gay man’s MPS is a man. A bisexual person’s MPS is whoever they are attracted to in a given situation. A non-binary person’s MPS is whoever they are attracted to. The term was chosen specifically so that the question works for all users without modification.

Semantic triple: MPS → refers to → person → romantically or sexually attracted to → regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

How to use it: When you see MPS in a question, mentally replace it with ‘a person I am attracted to’ or ‘my partner / the person I like.’ That is the intended reading every time.

Every Question on the Rice Purity Test That Uses MPS

The term MPS appears in the romance and physical intimacy categories of the test. Knowing which questions use it helps you answer them accurately. Here are all the questions on the standard 100-question version that reference MPS, presented exactly as they appear on the original test:

These questions all follow the same logic: substitute MPS with ‘a person I am romantically or sexually attracted to’ and answer based on your own experience. The test does not require that MPS be a specific gender, age, or relationship status beyond the basic framework of attraction.

How to Answer MPS Questions — Practical Guide

If you are unsure how to interpret a specific MPS question, the following framework resolves almost every case.

Step 1 — Replace MPS With ‘A Person I Am Attracted To’

Reread the question with that substitution. Ask yourself: has this activity happened with someone I find romantically or physically attractive? If yes, check the box. If no, leave it unchecked.

Step 2 — If You Are LGBTQ+

The test works identically for all sexual orientations. MPS simply means whoever you are attracted to. A gay man answering ‘held hands romantically with a MPS’ should think of a man he has held hands with romantically. A bisexual woman should think of anyone she has held hands with romantically. The term was designed specifically so that no user needs to mentally translate questions based on their orientation.

Step 3 — If You Are Unsure Whether Something Counts

A general principle applies across all test questions: if you are genuinely unsure whether an experience qualifies, it probably means the experience either did not happen in the way the question describes, or you are overthinking the interpretation. The test is not a legal document. Answer based on your honest first instinct. The test’s own disclaimer notes it is for entertainment and self-reflection, not clinical measurement.

Step 4 — What If You Have Never Had a MPS?

If you have not had any romantic or physical experiences with anyone you are attracted to, the answer to all MPS questions is no. Check nothing. Your score in those categories will reflect that, and there is no further interpretation needed.

Why Does the Test Use MPS Instead of ‘Partner’ or ‘Person’?

This is a genuinely interesting question, and most sites skip it entirely.

The original 1924 Rice Purity Test was written only for female students at Rice University. Its questions used gendered language — referring to male partners explicitly. When the test was revised and expanded to include male students in 1974 and later rewritten for a broader online audience, the challenge was how to make the questions apply to everyone without rewriting every question from scratch.

MPS solved that problem efficiently. It is a single abbreviation that makes any question about romantic or physical interaction automatically apply to straight, gay, bisexual, and any other orientation. Replacing ‘a man’ or ‘a woman’ with ‘a MPS’ in each question made the test inclusive with minimal rewording.

The term ‘partner’ could have been used but implies a committed relationship — which many test questions explicitly do not require. The term ‘person’ is too vague and loses the romantic context. ‘MPS’ preserves the romantic or sexual framing while removing the gender assumption. It is a practical solution that has stayed in the test’s language for decades.

Today the abbreviation feels dated to many users — which is precisely why thousands of people search for it each month. The test itself was written before gender-neutral language became standard in everyday speech, so MPS reads as unusual even though its function is entirely inclusive.

Complete Rice Purity Test Glossary — Every Confusing Term Explained

MPS is far from the only term in the Rice Purity Test that people stop and search. The test was written mostly in 1980s American college slang, and a significant number of its terms either feel dated, are American-specific, or refer to situations that many test-takers have simply never encountered. This glossary covers every term that generates search traffic — in plain language.

If a term still confuses you after reading this glossary, the simplest approach is: if you are not sure whether you have done it, you probably have not done it in the way the question means. Mark it as no and move on.

Does MPS Mean the Same Thing on All Rice Purity Test Versions?

Yes, with one minor variation. On almost all versions of the Rice Purity Test — including ricepuritytest.com, arealme.com, rice-puritytest.net, and ricepuritytestresult.com — MPS consistently means Member of Preferred Sex, referring to whoever you are attracted to.

Some newer versions of the test have replaced MPS with more contemporary language like ‘a person you are attracted to’ or simply ‘your partner.’ These updated versions are trying to address the fact that MPS reads as dated to younger users who encounter it without context. The meaning is identical — only the phrasing changes.

One site (ricepuritystest.com) incorrectly defines MPS as a separate test about legal encounters and prison experiences. That is completely wrong — MPS is not a separate test. It is an abbreviation used within questions on the standard 100-question Rice Purity Test. If you encountered that definition somewhere, disregard it entirely.

The version of the Rice Purity Test at ricepuritytestresult.com notes the MPS definition directly below the quiz header so you know before you start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does MPS stand for in the Rice Purity Test?

MPS stands for Member of Preferred Sex. It refers to the person you are romantically or sexually attracted to. The term is used throughout the test to make questions gender-neutral and applicable to all sexual orientations.

What does MPS mean in the Rice Purity Test?

MPS means whoever you are attracted to romantically or sexually. When you see MPS in a question, replace it mentally with ‘a person I like’ or ‘a person I am attracted to.’ The test uses MPS so that questions about romantic and physical experiences apply equally to straight, gay, bisexual, and all other users.

What is an MPS on the Rice Purity Test?

An MPS is a person — specifically, a member of your preferred sex. In practice: your MPS is whoever you are romantically or sexually interested in. The abbreviation appears in the romance and physical intimacy sections of the test, replacing gender-specific pronouns.

Does MPS mean male or female?

Neither specifically — and both, depending on who you are attracted to. MPS means whichever gender or person you prefer. For a straight woman, her MPS is a man. For a gay man, his MPS is a man. For a bisexual person, MPS refers to whoever they are attracted to in a given situation. The term was chosen precisely to avoid specifying a gender.

What does puff mean on the Rice Purity Test?

Puff refers to taking a puff — one inhalation — of a cigarette or marijuana. If a question mentions ‘used puff’ or ‘smoked,’ it means you have inhaled tobacco or marijuana smoke at least once. Even a single try counts.

What does streaking mean on the Rice Purity Test?

Streaking means running naked in a public place, usually as a dare or spontaneous act. It is different from simply being nude outdoors. Streaking specifically involves moving through a public or semi-public space without clothing. It became a college trend in the 1970s and appears in the test as a social conduct experience.

What does the question mark mean on the Rice Purity Test?

Question 69 on the original ricepuritytest.com version is displayed as a blank question mark. This is intentional — the question is left vague so each test-taker interprets it according to their own sense of what is taboo or unspeakable. Some updated versions of the test replace it with a specific question. On the original, the ambiguity is the point.

What does MPS mean for LGBTQ+ people on the Rice Purity Test?

MPS works identically for LGBTQ+ users. A gay man’s MPS is another man. A lesbian woman’s MPS is another woman. A bisexual person’s MPS is whoever they are attracted to. A non-binary or queer person’s MPS is whoever they feel romantic or sexual attraction toward. The term was specifically designed to avoid assuming the gender of either the test-taker or the person they are attracted to.

The Short Version

MPS means Member of Preferred Sex — the person you are attracted to. Every time you see MPS in a Rice Purity Test question, read it as ‘a person I am romantically or sexually interested in’ and answer based on that framing.

The test uses MPS because it was designed to work for everyone regardless of sexual orientation, without needing separate versions of each question. It is an older piece of shorthand that feels unusual to modern readers, which is exactly why so many people search for it.

Once you have your score, here is what every number from 0 to 100 actually means.

For a full explanation of all 100 questions and what they are really asking, the complete questions guide covers each one.