The invention provides a preparation method for an intermediate VI of Roxadustat. The preparation method comprises the following steps: reacting 3-methyl-5-bromoisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (I), which serves as a starting raw material, with phenol so as to prepare an intermediate II, then, subjecting the II to a ring-opening substitution reaction so as to prepare a compound III, and subjecting the compound III to a substitution reaction so as to prepare a key intermediate V; and subjecting the V to alkali condensation, deprotection and aromatization, thereby preparing the target intermediate VI. The preparation method for the intermediate VI of the Roxadustat, provided by the invention, has the advantages that the raw materials are readily available, the process is simple, the operation is convenient, the reaction yield is high, the atom utilization ratio is high, and the industrial production is facilitated. The reaction general formula is represented by the formulae shown in the description.