The invention discloses a high-temperature-resistant oil-well cement retarder and a preparation method thereof. The cement retarder comprises three structural units of sodium p-styrenesulfonate, maleic acid or itaconic acid, and N-vinylcaprolactam. The preparation method for the cement retarder comprises the following steps: (1) mixing odium p-styrenesulfonate, maleic acid or itaconic acid, and N-vinylcaprolactam according to the mass ratio of 10-17:2-7:1-3, dissolving in deionized water, controlling the total mass concentration of the monomers in the solution to be 10-20%, and adjusting the pH value of the solution to be 4-9; (2) introducing nitrogen into a reactor for removing oxygen, and adding an initiator potassium persulfate into the reaction system after the temperature of the reaction system raises to 55-70 DEG C; and (3) reacting 3-7 h, cooling the yellow slightly-viscous liquid product to room temperature, and performing purification, drying and crushing. The cement retarder possesses high-temperature resistance as well as high-temperature settlement stability, and the preparation method of the cement retarder has reliable principle, is convenient to operate, and possesses wide market prospect.