Tiffney Colon knows her stuff – almost.

After months of attending Kaplan sessions and taking daylong practice exams to prepare for the MCAT, the Notre Dame junior knows what to expect when April 21 rolls around.

"I took Kaplan because I knew it would be hard for me to prepare for the MCAT on my own," Colon said. "I needed the motivation."

However, a new Web site may offer students like Colon an alternative to the $1000 Kaplan fees. For $60, pre-med students can take the MCAT practice test online at www.aamc.org/mcat.

With the added convenience of immediate, automated scoring and diagnostic feedback, the new site strives to appeal to the more than 55,000 people who will take the medical school entrance exam this year.

"We thought students would find it useful. It will not replicate the real test, but there is more flexibility in building your own test on the fly," said Ellen Julian, director of the MCATs.

In addition to providing practice tests, the site also offers on-line registration. Since the introduction of the site on Feb. 12, more than 15,000 people have registered on-line for April's test.

Students can also purchase official MCAT publications at the site, including the paper version of the on-line test.

Due to the immediate success of the site, Julian said there are plans for additions.

"We're hoping to add other practice tests to the site," she said.

Despite the added convenience of taking the test in the comfort of a dorm room or computer cluster, Colon said she prefers the options offered by Kaplan.

"I like what we do for Kaplan because it is more like what the actual test is going to be like, " she said. "I can go there to study and learn, but I can certainly see the appeal of a Web site."

• Mass, tree-planting ceremony honor Murphy's memory
  
• SMC hires non-unionized workers
  
• Cardenas named among influential hispanics
  
• Real World star to talk about faith
  
• New policy changes SMC dance transport
  
• MCAT practice tests move to Web
  
• Sophomores plan dance, spirit week