Taking freshmen and English teachers from a major university in West China as subjects, this study employs the three research methods of questionnaire-based survey, English proficiency test and interview to investigate the necessity of the existence of English for General Purpose (EGP) course in China’s universities. The results show that the vast majority of the student subjects’ perceived English proficiency is below the basic requirement for communication, that their actual English proficiency is below CET-4 level, indicating their lack of basic English communicative competence, and that all the teacher subjects perceive students’ overall English proficiency as low to the extent that EGP course cannot be canceled at present. Therefore, it is safe to say that, at least in the universities in West China, it is necessary to offer the EGP course to meet students’ needs and develop their language abilities and humanistic qualities.