A variable valve apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a cylinder set comprising a plurality of cylinders. The variable valve apparatus includes: a control shaft adapted for rotation; a valve actuating mechanism provided for each cylinder of the cylinder set and adapted to vary a valve lift characteristic of an engine valve of the each cylinder of the cylinder set in accordance with a rotational position of the control shaft; and a valve lift adjusting mechanism provided for each cylinder of a first subset of the cylinder set and adapted to adjust the valve lift characteristic of the engine valve of the each cylinder of the first subset in accordance with a standard valve lift characteristic determined in accordance with the valve lift characteristic of the engine valve of each cylinder of a second subset of the cylinder set.