The floc characteristics of base paper stock for coating by the retention aid system consisting of polyacrylamide (high molecular weight low charge density, HMLC) and PEI without and with anionic inorganic oxide (IO) were investigated under various shear conditions of MDDA (modified dynamic drainage analyzer). The floc size was increased with cationic electrolytes dosage whatever inorganic oxide is applied or not. The effect of inorganic oxide on the floc size showed the different result between PAM and PEI. The smaller floc was obtained by PAM without inorganic oxide, but larger floc was obtained by PAM with inorganic oxide. However, the effect of shear force was not observed. Floc formation index was decreased by the addition of cationic electrolytes with or without inorganic oxide. Floc formation index had better correlation format formation index than floc size. The relationships between wet web permeability and mat air permeability showed the significant linear correlation ($R^2$=0.97~0.98) for HML PAM and PEI. Floc formation index gave more useful information than the retention measurement when the performance of retention aids is evaluated at the laboratory before applying at the paper mill.