Problems encountered in evaluating the effectiveness of an English elective program indicated the need for the development of a criterion-referenced diagnostic test for determining students' knowledge and understanding of certain basic language concepts in the field of English. A survey of 76 English elective programs throughout the United States gave further evidence of the need for diagnostic instruments in English. The review of the literature provided background in the development of the language curriculum, suggested goals for language study at the secondary level, confirmed that available tests do not measure the selected language areas, and established the principles of test development which were used in the development of the criterion-referenced diagnostic test. Two of the recommendations made were that English teachers and department chairmen become more knowledgeable about evaluation and that the English profession encourage English departments to develop and use criterion-referenced tests. (Author/RB)