The invention discloses a test control device and a test control method for the water level of an inland-river ship lock. The device comprises a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), an information comparing and analyzing module, a water level detecting sensor and a ship position sensor, wherein a control module is arranged in the PLC; the control module is respectively communicated with the information comparing and analyzing module and a ship lock starting-stopping device; the information comparing and analyzing module is respectively communicated with the water level detecting sensor and the ship position detector. The test control device disclosed by the invention is simple in structure, easily available for materials, and capable of being accurately and easily arranged, precisely measuring the upstream and downstream water level of the ship lock and judging whether ships in the lock are within a safety distance or not, so that the reliable theoretical basis and method reference are provided for the actual application of ship lock automatic starting and stopping, and therefore, the automatic control on the ship lock is realized.