A pilot-measurement control method and a dual-mode terminal are provided. After entering a tunnel state, an idle state protocol submodule does not wait for a measurement start command to trigger pilot measurement. Instead, the idle state protocol submodule directly triggers pilot measurement by actively querying for high rate packet data (HRPD) measurement permission variable information. Alternatively, measurement indication information sent by an initialization protocol submodule is buffered in advance, so that after entering the tunnel state, the idle state protocol submodule can trigger pilot measurement by querying for the buffered information. Alternatively, the idle state protocol submodule performs pilot measurement according to received measurement indication information sent by an air interface connection management protocol submodule when the idle state protocol submodule is activated.