A method of precisely inspecting the entire surface of a mask at a high speed in consideration of optical effects of the mask. The method includes designing a target mask layout for a pattern to be formed on a wafer, and extracting an effective mask layout using an inspection image measured from the target mask layout using an aerial image inspection apparatus as a mask inspection apparatus. The effective mask layout is input to a wafer simulation tool for calculating a wafer image to be formed on the wafer. Optical effects of the mask are detected by comparing the target mask layout with the effective mask layout.