A refresh characteristic test circuit is provided, in a recessed semiconductor device, that is capable of verifying whether a refresh failure is caused by the neighbor/passing gate effect or not and a method for testing the refresh characteristic. The refresh characteristic test circuit includes a select signal generating unit for receiving first address signals and a test mode signal and generate select signals to select cell blocks, a main word line signal generating unit for receiving second address signals and the test mode signal and generate main word lines signals to select main word lines of the selected cell block, and a sub word line signal generating unit for receiving third address signals and the test mode signal and enable sub word lines of the selected main word line.