A method of transmitting and receiving a channel quality indicator (CQI) for a sleep-mode mobile station is disclosed. When data to be transmitted to the mobile station is present, the mobile station which is in a sleep mode is directed to transition to a normal mode and simultaneously a temporary CQI channel is allocated thereto. Thus the mobile station which has transitioned to the normal mode from the sleep mode efficiently transmits the CQI, and data applying a proper modulation and coding scheme can be transmitted.