APGAR is the standard quick assessment of a newborn's condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, scoring five signs — including breathing effort.
Reassuring.
Moderately abnormal — may need some assistance.
Low — needs immediate resuscitation.
No — it's a whole-body assessment. Respiration is only one of five components, which is why respiratory-specific newborn tools like Silverman-Andersen and Downes also exist.
7–10 is generally reassuring, 4–6 is moderately abnormal and may need some assistance, and 0–3 is low and needs immediate resuscitation.
The 1-minute score reflects tolerance of birth; the 5-minute score reflects response to any resuscitation and correlates better with outcomes. Scores may be repeated every 5 minutes if low.
Not reliably on its own — it's a snapshot of immediate condition. Persistently low scores prompt closer evaluation, but most babies with a low 1-minute score do well.