What is the maximum possible APGAR score?

• A. 5
• B. 10
• C. 15
• D. 20

Answer: (B)

APGAR score measures how well a newborn is adapting right after birth by looking at five areas: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color. Each area is scored 0, 1, or 2, so the total can range from 0 to 10. The highest possible total is 10, which happens when every area scores 2 (heart rate over 100, good breathing, active movement, strong reflexes, and completely pink skin). In practice, a 9 or 10 indicates excellent condition, while lower totals reflect varying degrees of distress.