An apparatus and method for controlling a sleep mode in a wireless access communication system. The apparatus determines a predetermined number of groups for grouping at least one subscriber terminal according to type information of a paging interval equal to the sum of the sleep interval and the listening interval, and registers the subscriber terminal in one group from among the groups on the basis of the paging interval type of the subscriber terminal. Upon receipt of the group information, the apparatus controls a base station to pre-recognize a terminal woken up at a predetermined time from among a plurality of terminals entering the sleep mode, resulting in reduction of the number of unnecessary paging message transmissions and improved efficiency of the wireless access communication system.