What kind of test is the FRHSD Magnet Programs entrance exam?

FRHSD uses percentile scores from a nationally administered assessment of cognitive ability. It measures reasoning skills rather than school subjects, so it is not like the NJSLA or the SAT. Testing time is 90 minutes, and the full session runs a little over two and a half hours.

Which FRHSD magnet programs require the entrance exam?

Business Administration, Computer Science, Global Studies, Humanities, Law & Public Service, Medical Sciences, and Science & Engineering require the entrance exam.

When is the 2026 FRHSD entrance exam?

Saturday, December 5, 2026, with weekday makeup sessions. Applications are due November 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM and notifications go out in late February 2027.

Is the FRHSD exam the same as the MCVSD exam?

No. MCVSD tests math and writing/language arts content; FRHSD uses a cognitive abilities test. They are separate districts with separate applications, and many Monmouth County families apply to both.

FRHSD Magnet Programs Entrance Exam Prep

A Test Your Student Has Never Taken

FRHSD ranks applicants on percentile scores from a nationally administered assessment of cognitive ability — a reasoning test, not a subject test.

Straight-A students can still be caught off guard. Cognitive abilities tests use verbal analogies, number series, and figure patterns that don't appear in any middle school class, under tight time limits. Because scores are reported as percentiles, students are measured against everyone else who sits the exam, not against a fixed passing line.

Our FRHSD mocks are modeled on the CogAT and run on real timing. Your student learns the question styles and the pacing before the day it counts, and you see where they stand while there's still time to act on it.

Exam day, by the numbers

90 minutes of actual testing
A little over 2½ hours with instructions
Scored as national percentiles
Saturday, December 5, 2026 (weekday makeups offered)

Step One

Come in, take a test.

A full-length FRHSD mock exam, proctored in person at a Foley Prep location under real test-day conditions.

1

Book a Seat

Pick a date and location that work for you. No prep needed — just show up.

2

Take the Test

A timed, CogAT-style mock in a real proctored room — verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning.

3

See Where You Stand

Find out which kinds of questions cost your student the most, with weeks left to work on them.

Schedule an FRHSD Mock Exam

Book before the end of November to leave time to review before December 5.

The FRHSD Magnet Programs

Twelve magnet programs are spread across the district's six high schools. Any 8th grader from an FRHSD sending district can apply to up to two Magnet & IB programs, and the district provides transportation.

Program	High School	Entrance Exam
Business Administration	Marlboro
Computer Science ^*	Freehold
Global Studies	Freehold Township
Humanities	Howell
Law & Public Service	Colts Neck
Medical Sciences ^*	Freehold
Science & Engineering ^*	Manalapan
Animal & Botanical Sciences	Freehold Township	—
Culinary Arts & Hospitality	Freehold	—
Fine & Performing Arts	Howell	Audition
Law Enforcement & Public Safety	Manalapan	—
Navy Junior ROTC	Colts Neck	Interview

^* Also requires Algebra 1 completed before September of freshman year (in middle school or through the FRHSD Summer Academy). Freehold Township and Howell also host IB programs. Source: FRHSD Magnet Programs.

How Applicants Are Evaluated

The district combines several measures into one application score. The weighting differs by program.

Entrance Exam

Cognitive abilities percentiles for the seven exam programs. This is the piece a mock exam prepares for.

ELA & Math Grades

7th grade final grades plus the first marking period of 8th grade.

Program Essays

Program-specific essays of 250–500 words.

Auditions & Interviews

Fine & Performing Arts holds auditions; Navy JROTC holds interviews.

2026–27 Key Dates

FRHSD says deadlines are firm and no extensions are granted.

September 16, 2026	Application opens
November 2, 2026	Application deadline (11:59 PM)
December 5, 2026	Entrance exam (Saturday; weekday makeups offered)
Late February 2027	Admissions notifications

Dates from the FRHSD Magnet Programs FAQ. Always confirm with the district before you plan around them.

Pricing

All Foley Prep services are 529 plan eligible.

Common Questions

Can my child study for a cognitive abilities test?

It doesn't test memorized content, but the format is unusual and the timing is tight, so familiarity matters. Students who have already worked through analogies, number series, and figure matrices under time pressure spend test day reasoning instead of decoding instructions. A full-length mock is the most direct way to get there.

Is this the same as the MCVSD exam?

No. The MCVSD exam tests math and writing/language arts content; FRHSD uses a cognitive abilities test. They're separate districts with separate applications, and many Monmouth County families apply to both. We offer mock exams for each.

Who can apply?

Every 8th grader from an FRHSD sending district — the communities served by Colts Neck, Freehold, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan, and Marlboro high schools. Students can apply to up to two Magnet & IB programs. Applications go through the district's SchoolMint portal.

When should we take a mock?

Several weeks before December 5. That leaves time to review the results and work on the question types that cost the most points. Families applying to MCVSD too can line both mocks up in the same few weeks.

Is it eligible for 529 education savings plans?

Yes! All Foley Prep services are 529 plan eligible. Learn more on our 529 Plan page.