A method was developed in determining 16 PAHs in oily sludge contaminated soil samples and other complex matrices using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. In order to meet the requirements of laboratory analysis, elimination of background interference and improvement of the reliability of the data, detailed sample preparation and instrumental analysis were examined, together with quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) of the method. The results indicated nice correlation coefficient ranged from 0.999 3 to 0.999 7 and low method of detection limits (MDLs) from 0.11 to 2.54 ng/ml with recovery rates and relative standard deviation from 70.5% to 107.0% and 0.09% to 3.15% respectively. These proved the method highly applicable in analyzing soil samples contaminated by PAHs.