This paper focuses on the development of an English second language test as a national option in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. In South Africa all learners learn to read in their home languages in grade 1 to 4 and only about 10% of these are English-speaking. In grade 4 the medium of instruction changes from mother tongue to English. This may have an impact on other learning areas of these students as grade 4 sees the transition of "learning to read" to "reading to learn". The purpose of the national option is to see whether the English second language learners are proficient enough in English literacy, after the grade 4 switch from their home languages, to learn successfully in English and to see which components of these learners' literacy skills may warrant further attention to improve their English literacy. The focus of the 2nd language English instrument will there be focused more directly on the learners' English literacy, and not on other skills such as meta analysis, textual elements, as examined by some of the more difficult PIRLS items. This paper will provide an overview of the design as well as some of the findings of the pilot study conducted in 2005