The present invention relates to the high voltage switch test equipment field, in particular to a switch arc extinguishing test device which can be used to research the arc extinguishing characteristics and a test method. The switch arc extinguishing test device comprises a pressure container, and an air compression mechanism, a moving contact and a fixed contact which are arranged in the pressure container. The air compression mechanism comprises an air compression cylinder and an air compression piston, the moving contact and the fixed contact are arranged oppositely, and the air compression piston and the moving contact are in transmission connection with the corresponding operating mechanisms respectively. The air compression piston and the moving contact of the switch arc extinguishing test device of the present invention are in transmission connection with the corresponding operating mechanisms respectively, so that the two sets of operating mechanisms can drive the switch air compression mechanism and the moving contact to act orderly and respectively at test. The arc interruption characteristics under different blowing intensities are obtained by adjusting the action time interval of the air compression mechanism and the moving contact, thereby solving the problem that the conventional switch arc extinguishing test device can not adjust the blowing intensity.