A downlink scheduling data monitoring method, a downlink scheduling data sending method, and an apparatus are provided. The method includes: starting a timer; and after it is determined that the timer expires, monitoring, by using a first discontinuous reception DRX monitoring cycle, downlink scheduling data sent by a base station, where duration of the first DRX monitoring cycle is in a unit of minute or hour. After it is determined that the timer expires, the downlink scheduling data is monitored by using the first DRX monitoring cycle whose duration is in a unit of minute or hour. In this way, not only power consumption is reduced, but also the downlink scheduling data can be monitored.