The present work had as objective to verify the effect on exhibition time variations and temperature of cold test on seed performance of soybean cultivars harvested in the 1997/98 season and market in 1998/99. All analyses were accomplished at Laboratório de Analise e Tecnologia de Sementes da Faculdade de Engenharia - UNESP - Campus de Ilha Solteira. Commercial seeds of nine soybean cultivars were used (IAC-19; IAC-17; IAC-8-2; IAC-Foscarin 31; FT-108; Paiaguás; Uirapuru; Xingu, and FT-Cristalina) obtained from farmers of areas close to. The Uirapuru cultivar seed was produced in two localities. The seeds were submitted to the germination and vigor tests (first count of the germination test, accelerated aging, speed germination index, electrical conductivity, cold test in paper towel (10oC/7dias) and cold test with some modifications (4oC/3 days; 4oC/5 days; 4oC/7 days; 7oC/3 days; 7oC/5 days; 7oC/7 days)). The results showed there are possibilities to alterations in the cold test for soybean seeds through the reduction of temperature and use of shorter periods of exhibition. The time of seed exhibition to the cold through the reduction of the temperature, using three at five days and 7oC, even so the acting of the seeds can vary with to cultivar used. However, researches with cultivars presenting differences in the seed vigor have been necessary, because this factor is an important component in the results of the test. Temperature at 4oC caused severe reductions on seed performance until in short periods of exhibition, but there is differentiated effect to cultivar.