Small punch (SP) test has been utilized to analyze the neutron irradiation damage of nuclear vessels. Since this technique is easy, simple, and nondestructive, it can be applied to evaluate the mechanical properties and material degradation of in-service components. Conventional SP test has evaluated the ductile-brittle transition temperature and the equivalent fracture strain by the interpretations of load-deflection curve and the change of specimen thickness, respectively. The assumption that fracture occurs at maximum load is, however, not reasonable because the crack initiates at smaller load. In this study, in order to evaluate quan­titatively fracture characteristics based on fracture mechanics, the pre-crack is introduced to SP specimen and acoustic emission is used to determine the crack initiation point. Using the load at crack initiation point, the fracture toughness of thin plate is calculated through bending theory. Therefore, the fracture charac­teristics of thin plate can be evaluated more reliably by using revised SP test.