The objectives of the English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) of the Dept. of English, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, have broadened over the years to encompass the changing needs of the students who enter the university system. In 1998 again, there was a major change and the ELTU replied by adopting another new approach to teaching. This directly resulted in changes to areas such as the curriculum, lesson materials and testing. The English Placement Test (EPT) 99 was developed to place new entrants to the Intensive English Program in the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The EPT 99 was developed to meet practical needs, but needed to be evaluated systematically. This study reports the findings and results of the evaluation of the EPT (99). The study uses the framework set out by Bachman and Palmer (1996) for evaluating test usefulness in terms of reliability, construct validity, authenticity, interactiveness, impact and practicality. Several methods were used to collect data: statistical analysis of test scores interviews with the test developer and the Intensive English Program director and instructor feedback through questionnaires. Using this information the study assessed the usefulness of the EPT (99) and made suggestions on how to maximize the overall usefulness of the test. The study in addition to the evaluation of the EPT (99) also provides a theoretical framework for developing other tests.