Variable valve control method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine provided with a variable valve mechanism that varies an operating characteristic of an intake valve, for controlling a gas amount passing back through the intake valve by variably controlling the operating characteristic. A storage section stores previously a correlation between a value equivalent to an opening area of the intake valve and a valve passing gas amount, corresponding to predetermined effective cylinder capacity. A conversion section converts that value equivalent into the valve passing gas amount by referring to the correlation. A correction section corrects the value equivalent based on a ratio between the converted valve passing gas amount and a requested valve passing gas amount. A calculating section calculates requested effective cylinder capacity (by which the requested valve passing gas amount can be obtained based on the value equivalent to the opening area) based on the valve passing gas amount obtained by referring to the correlation based on the corrected value equivalent to the opening area, and the requested valve passing gas amount. A control section controls the variable valve mechanism according to the requested effective cylinder capacity calculated.