The use of cloze tests is beset with problems. The C-Test represents an attempt to develop a measure of general language competence which will avoid these problems. A large number of studies, involving children and adults learning a variety of languages, point to its being a reliable and valid measure of overall language ability. Construct validation has now begun. The principal usefulness of the C-Test is seen to be in selection and placement procedures. It is essential that the test should not be used to make significant decisions without prior statistical evaluation.