The　hydration　of　cement　is　known　to　be　a　complex　phenomenon.　Although　the　broad　pattern　of　reactions　and　microstructural　development　are　known,　a　number　of　important　questions　remain　unanswered.　How　to　select　the　proper　techniques　is　what　the　research　people　think　of　for　now.　This　paper　reviewed　the　domestic　and　international　research　progress　and　presented　the　advantages　and　disadvantages　of　these　methods　and　the　application　prospects.　Nuclear　magnetic　resonance　spectroscopy　(NMR),　nanoindentation　and　electron　microscopy　techniques　of　cements　were　expounded　in　detail.　Furthermore,　through　analyzing　the　results　obtained　by　different　research　methods,　the　paper　predicted　the　development　prospect　of　advanced　testing　method　of　cement-based　materials.　©　(2015)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.