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.
| Quick Answer: MPS = Member of Preferred Sex = the person you are attracted to. When answering any MPS question, think: has this happened with someone I am romantically or sexually interested in? If yes, check the box. That is all. |
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.
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.
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. Here are all the questions on the standard 100-question version that reference MPS:
| Q# | Question (uses MPS) |
|---|---|
| Q1 | Held hands romantically with a MPS? |
| Q2 | Been on a date with a MPS? |
| Q5 | Kissed a MPS? |
| Q6 | Kissed a MPS on the lips? |
| Q7 | French kissed a MPS? |
| Q8 | French kissed a MPS in public? |
| Q10 | Given or received a hickey from a MPS? |
| Q11 | Kissed a MPS on the neck? |
| Q12 | Kissed a MPS horizontally? |
| Q13 | Kissed or been kissed on the breast by a MPS? |
| Q14 | Kissed a MPS below the belt? |
| Q16 | Seen or been seen by a MPS in a sensual context? |
| Q21 | Undressed or been undressed by a MPS? |
| Q22 | Spent the night with a MPS? |
How to Answer MPS Questions — Practical Guide
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. 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: 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. Answer based on your honest first instinct.
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.
Why Does the Test Use MPS Instead of 'Partner' or 'Person'?
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 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. The term 'partner' implies a committed relationship — which many test questions explicitly do not require. 'MPS' preserves the romantic or sexual framing while removing the gender assumption.
Today the abbreviation feels dated to many users — which is precisely why thousands of people search for it each month.
Complete Rice Purity Test Glossary — Every Confusing Term Explained
| Term | What It Means on the Rice Purity Test |
|---|---|
| MPS | Member of Preferred Sex. The person you are romantically or sexually attracted to. |
| Puff | One inhalation of a cigarette or marijuana. Even a single try counts. |
| French kiss | A kiss that involves tongues. Both partners' tongues touch during the kiss. |
| Hickey | A bruise-like mark left on skin from being kissed or sucked with enough pressure. Also called a love bite. |
| Streaking | Running through a public area completely naked, usually as a dare or prank. |
| Skinny-dipping | Swimming without clothes, usually in a pool, lake, or ocean. |
| Booty call | Contacting someone to arrange a casual sexual encounter outside a committed relationship. |
| Mile high club | Slang for having had sexual intercourse on board an airplane during a flight. |
| Mooning | Exposing your bare buttocks to others as a joke or prank. |
| Orgy | Sexual activity involving more than three people simultaneously. |
| Threesome | Sexual activity involving exactly three people simultaneously. |
| STI | Sexually Transmitted Infection. Any infection passed through sexual contact. |
| Unspeakable acts | Question 69 on the original test is intentionally left as a question mark — deliberately vague so each test-taker interprets it personally. |
| Disciplinary probation | A formal period of academic or conduct monitoring after a serious rule violation at school. |
| Horizontal kissing | Kissing while lying down — both people are horizontal rather than standing or sitting. |
Does MPS Mean the Same Thing on All Rice Purity Test Versions?
Yes. On almost all versions of the Rice Purity Test MPS consistently means Member of Preferred Sex, referring to whoever you are attracted to. Some newer versions have replaced MPS with more contemporary language like 'a person you are attracted to' — the meaning is identical, only the phrasing changes.
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.
Does MPS mean male or female?
Neither specifically — and both, depending on who you are attracted to. 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. The term was chosen precisely to avoid specifying a gender.
What does puff mean on the Rice Purity Test?
Puff refers to taking one inhalation of a cigarette or marijuana. 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 became a college trend in the 1970s and appears in the test as a social conduct experience.
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. 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.
Once you have your score, here is what every number from 0 to 100 actually means.