Abstract: Based on the simulation test on the top coal caving mining, the method to improve the top coal recovery rate was discussed and analyzed, a top coal pre -set symbol point method was provided to calculate the top coal recovery rate and a difference from the comparison on the top coal recovery rates calculated with the W eighing method and the symbol point method could be applied to calculate the top coal recovery rate.A top coal tracker was researched and development.The site meas ured method of the top coal recovery was improved.The top coal tracker was applied to the site measurement on the top coal recovery of the top coal caving mining fac e under six different conditions and the results showed that the researched and developed top coal migration tracker could make a site measurement of the top coal rec overy rate for the top coal caving mining face and could meet the site complicated conditions.The coal hardness and the crack development degree as well as the partin g in the top coal would be the main factors affected to the top coal recovery rate and relatively saying, the top coal seam thickness and seam inclination would have a le ss influence to the top coal recovery rate. The simulation test and the site observation both showed that the recovery rate at the middle and low part of the top coal woul d be higher and the coal recovery rate at the top part of the top coal would be lower.The coal recovery rate of the top coal bottom near the powered would also be lowe