The long version
What is the AO3 purity test? A free fanfiction quiz for readers and writers
A fanfiction purity quiz built for AO3 readers
The AO3 purity test is a free online quiz built for the specific, slightly unhinged joy of being a fanfiction reader. It takes the classic purity-test format and rebuilds it around Archive of Our Own and the people who have made it their second home.
If you have refreshed a WIP at 3 a.m., filtered a fandom by twelve tags or lied about your bookmark count, these 217 questions are for you.
How the AO3 purity score is calculated
Check every statement that applies. When you finish, we count how many you did not check and express that as your AO3 purity score. A score of 100 means you are new to the archive; a score of 0 means you have checked nearly every habit, tag and trope.
There are no right answers, leaderboards or accounts. Whether you finish with 82% or 8%, the score is a snapshot of the reader you are today, not a verdict on your taste.
Who should take this free online AO3 purity test?
Anyone who has ever opened AO3 on purpose. The questions are written for:
- Readers with a growing bookmarks tab and carefully filtered tags.
- Writers with anonymous works, WIPs and apologetic author's notes.
- Shippers who defend a rare pair and have opinions about canon.
- Fandom elders who remember LiveJournal and the Great AO3 Invite Wait.
One quiz, many kinds of fans
Your score is personal because your fandom history is personal.
A reader may score through bookmarks and WIPs. A writer may score through exchanges and author's notes. There is no single “correct” way to be deep in AO3.
What questions are included in this 217-question AO3 quiz?
The fanfiction purity test combines direct tags and tropes with real archive behavior:
- Reading habits, ships, tags, filters and popular fanfiction tropes.
- Writing, WIPs, comments, kudos and fandom communities.
- Angst, whump, darkfic and explicit-content references with no judgment.
- Skins, EPUB downloads, subscriptions, exchanges and OTW support.
Is this AO3 purity test private, safe and free online?
Yes. The test runs in your browser, requires no account and does not send your answers to a database. Refresh the page to start over. See our privacy page for details.
How to share your AO3 score
Use the result card's copy button or take a screenshot for Tumblr, Bluesky, Discord or your group chat. Then compare which tags, tropes and WIP habits your friends checked.
About this unofficial AO3 fanfiction purity test
This site is a fan project. We are not affiliated with Archive of Our Own or the Organization for Transformative Works. The quiz is a slightly chaotic, mostly wholesome love letter to fanfiction readers, writers and shippers.
Ready to see your AO3 purity score?