Fanfiction & AO3 Purity Test: A Guide for Fandom Communities
What Is the Fanfiction Purity Test?
The Fanfiction Purity Test ā sometimes called the AO3 Purity Test, after the popular fanfiction archive Archive of Our Own ā is another community-built spin-off of the classic Rice Purity Test. It keeps the same familiar 100-point scoring system, but replaces general life-experience questions with ones tailored to fanfiction reading, writing, and fandom participation habits.
Where It Came From
Like other themed spin-offs, this version wasn’t produced by any official organization or platform ā it grew organically out of fanfiction communities who wanted a version of the popular quiz format tailored to their own specific culture. This mirrors the same grassroots pattern behind other niche versions, including the Gaming Purity Test and the Anime Purity Test, both of which emerged the same way.
How It’s Different From the Classic Test
The scoring mechanics stay identical to the original ā a starting score of 100, with one point subtracted for every “yes” answer. What changes is the subject matter entirely, shifting from broad life experiences to fandom-specific ones: fic-writing habits, reading preferences, community involvement, and shared inside references familiar to anyone active in fanfiction spaces.
| Feature | Rice Purity Test | Fanfiction Purity Test |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring system | 100 minus one point per “yes” | Same formula |
| Question focus | General life experiences | Fanfiction/fandom habits |
| Typical audience | General public | Fanfiction readers and writers |
| Origin | College orientation tradition | Fan community creation |
Why Fandom Communities Love It
Fanfiction communities are already built around shared references, inside jokes, and a strong sense of identity within specific fandoms ā which makes a comparison-driven quiz like this a natural fit. It gives fans a lighthearted way to signal how deep they are into fandom culture, similar to how the original test’s score chart gives a general sense of where someone lands based on shared experiences.
Taking It With Fellow Fans
As with the original Rice Purity Test, this spin-off is most fun shared within a group ā a Discord server, a fandom group chat, or a community thread ā where comparing scores can spark conversation, nostalgia, and plenty of “wait, you’ve done THAT too?” moments. This social, shareable nature is part of the same appeal that helped the original test spread virally across the internet in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Fanfiction Purity Test?
It’s a fan-made spin-off of the Rice Purity Test, built around fanfiction reading, writing, and fandom community experiences.
2. Is the Fanfiction Purity Test the same as the AO3 Purity Test?
They generally refer to the same type of quiz, named after the popular Archive of Our Own fanfiction platform.
3. Is it an official quiz from AO3?
No, it’s a fan-created quiz with no official affiliation to Archive of Our Own or any fanfiction platform.
4. How is scoring calculated?
The same way as the original Rice Purity Test: starting at 100 points, with one point deducted per “yes” answer.
5. What kinds of questions does it include?
Typical questions cover fic-writing habits, reading preferences, fandom community involvement, and shared fandom experiences.
6. Does a low score mean anything negative about someone’s fandom involvement?
No ā like the original test, it’s simply a tally of experiences, not a judgment of any kind.
7. Is there one official version of the test?
No, multiple fan-made versions circulate with slightly different question sets across various fandom communities.
8. Can people outside fanfiction communities take the test?
Yes, though many questions may be unfamiliar to those not active in fanfiction or fandom spaces.
9. Is the Fanfiction Purity Test scientifically validated?
No, like other spin-offs, it’s an informal quiz meant for fun and community bonding rather than measurement.
10. Why do these fandom-specific spin-offs exist?
Fans adapted the original test’s simple, transparent scoring format to fit the specific communities and interests they belong to.
11. Is the Fanfiction Purity Test popular on social media?
It’s commonly shared within fandom-focused online spaces as a lighthearted comparison and bonding activity.
12. How does it compare to other themed spin-offs like the Anime or Gaming Purity Test?
All follow the same underlying scoring structure, just with different themed question sets tailored to each community.
