A method for testing the initial setting time and/or the final setting time of cement-based materials using a meniscus depression method employing an automatic meniscus depression testing device comprising a pressure sensor, a ceramic head, a gas collecting tube, a tube plug, a testing cylinder, a pin head, and a data collection and transmission device, the ceramic head being arranged at the bottom of the gas collecting tube, the tube plug being on the top of the gas collecting tube, the ceramic head having very small holes with 1.5 - 2.5 μm diameter on the surface and inside, the pressure sensor being installed inside the testing cylinder, the pin head mounted in the front of the testing cylinder extending into the gas collecting tube after passing through the tube plug, the data obtained from the pressure sensor being analyzed and processed by the data collection and transmission device, wherein the method for testing meniscus depression includes the following steps: a. filling the gas collecting tube with water and wetting the ceramic head, the probe being formed by miniature ceramic head fully saturated, gas collecting tube and water in the gas collecting tube, and the initial pressure inside the probe being P0; b. inserting the ceramic head at the bottom of the probe into the cement-based materials, testing the pressure P1 inside the probe by means of a pressure testing device, then the difference between P1 and P0 being the meniscus depression of cement-based materials, characterized in that the method for testing the initial setting time and/or the final setting time of cement-based materials comprises the steps of (i) testing the meniscus depression of cement-based materials without bleeding, wherein without bleeding means either (i) the cement-based materials themselves without bleeding, (ii) the cement-based materials themselves with bleeding symptom but no bleeding at the bottom, or (iii) the bleeding on the surface is removed in real time, (ii) taking the time when the meniscus depression arrives at threshold A as being the initial setting time and/or the time when the meniscus depression arrives at threshold B as being the final setting time, wherein threshold A = 8 - 10 kPa and threshold B = 54 - 56 kPa. a. filling the gas collecting tube with water and wetting the ceramic head, the probe being formed by miniature ceramic head fully saturated, gas collecting tube and water in the gas collecting tube, and the initial pressure inside the probe being P0; b. inserting the ceramic head at the bottom of the probe into the cement-based materials, testing the pressure P1 inside the probe by means of a pressure testing device, then the difference between P1 and P0 being the meniscus depression of cement-based materials, characterized in that the method for testing the initial setting time and/or the final setting time of cement-based materials comprises the steps of (i) testing the meniscus depression of cement-based materials without bleeding, wherein without bleeding means either (i) the cement-based materials themselves without bleeding, (ii) the cement-based materials themselves with bleeding symptom but no bleeding at the bottom, or (iii) the bleeding on the surface is removed in real time, (ii) taking the time when the meniscus depression arrives at threshold A as being the initial setting time and/or the time when the meniscus depression arrives at threshold B as being the final setting time, wherein threshold A = 8 - 10 kPa and threshold B = 54 - 56 kPa. (i) testing the meniscus depression of cement-based materials without bleeding, wherein without bleeding means either (i) the cement-based materials themselves without bleeding, (ii) the cement-based materials themselves with bleeding symptom but no bleeding at the bottom, or (iii) the bleeding on the surface is removed in real time, (ii) taking the time when the meniscus depression arrives at threshold A as being the initial setting time and/or the time when the meniscus depression arrives at threshold B as being the final setting time, wherein threshold A = 8 - 10 kPa and threshold B = 54 - 56 kPa.