When is the Apgar score usually recorded?

It is usually recorded at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. If the 5-minute score is below 7, repeated documentation may continue at additional intervals according to clinical guidance.

Does a low Apgar score diagnose birth asphyxia?

No. A low Apgar score can signal that a newborn needs assessment and support, but it should not be used alone to diagnose asphyxia or predict an individual outcome.

Who should use this calculator?

It is a documentation aid for understanding the score. Clinical decisions for a newborn must be made by trained medical staff using the full clinical situation.

Apgar Score Calculator

Calculate 1-minute, 5-minute and optional 10-minute Apgar scores from Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration components.

1 minute

AAppearance

PPulse

GGrimace

AActivity

RRespiration

5 minutes

AAppearance

PPulse

GGrimace

AActivity

RRespiration

Include 10-minute score (optional when the 5-minute score is below 7)

Select all Apgar criteria for: 1 minute (5 of 5), 5 minutes (5 of 5).

What the Apgar score documents

The Apgar score is a quick way to document a newborn's clinical status shortly after birth. It is usually recorded at 1 minute and 5 minutes, with additional repeated scores when clinically indicated. The score describes observations; it does not replace neonatal assessment or resuscitation protocols.

Apgar = A + P + G + A + R

Five components, each scored 0 to 2, for a total from 0 to 10.

Not a diagnosis of asphyxia

ACOG and AAP caution that the Apgar score alone should not be used to diagnose asphyxia or predict an individual newborn's mortality or neurologic outcome.

Apgar components

Letter	Component	What is observed
A	Appearance	Skin color and oxygenation signs.
P	Pulse	Heart rate.
G	Grimace	Reflex irritability.
A	Activity	Muscle tone.
R	Respiration	Breathing effort.

Scores assigned during active resuscitation may not be comparable with scores in a spontaneously breathing infant because the interventions can change the observed components.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and References

Calculations are based on the listed reference sources. Links open in a new tab.

Updated: June 2, 2026

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