Bishop Score Calculator

Score cervical dilation, effacement, station, consistency and position to get the Bishop score out of 13 and see whether the cervix is favourable for induction of labour.

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Written and reviewed by the Kinase Medical Team · Last reviewed 30 September 2026

Quick Answer

The Bishop score adds dilation, effacement and station (0–3 each) and consistency and position (0–2 each) for a total of 0–13. A score of more than 8 means a favourable cervix — induction is about as likely to end in vaginal delivery as spontaneous labour. A score below 6 usually needs cervical ripening first.

For learning — not for clinical decisions. This calculator is a study aid for exam preparation. Check every result against your institution's protocols and senior advice before acting on it.

Bishop score calculator

Dilation
Effacement
Station of presenting part
Consistency
Position

Select one finding for each of the five components.

How it's calculated

Total
Bishop = dilation + effacement + station + consistency + position (0–13)
Dilation
0 closed · 1 = 1–2 cm · 2 = 3–4 cm · 3 = 5 cm or more
Effacement
0 = 0–30% · 1 = 40–50% · 2 = 60–70% · 3 = 80% or more
Station
0 = −3 · 1 = −2 · 2 = −1 or 0 · 3 = +1 or +2
Consistency
0 firm · 1 medium · 2 soft
Position
0 posterior · 1 mid · 2 anterior

A firm cervix feels like the tip of the nose; a soft cervix feels like the lip. Station is the level of the presenting part relative to the ischial spines (0 = at the spines). Score each item on the same examination and add them.

How to interpret the result

Cut-offs vary between guidelines and studies; StatPearls (NBK470368) notes that precise criteria have not been established.
ScoreCervixUsual meaning
9–13 (more than 8)FavourableChance of vaginal delivery after induction is similar to spontaneous labour
6–8IntermediateNot clearly favourable; ripening decisions depend on parity and local protocol
0–5 (below 6)UnfavourableInduction less likely to succeed; cervical ripening usually needed first

Worked example

At 41 weeks, a woman's cervix is 2 cm dilated, 60% effaced, soft and mid-position, with the head at station −1.

Dilation 1 + effacement 2 + station 2 + consistency 2 + position 1 = 8 → not yet clearly favourable (the favourable threshold is more than 8).

A closed, uneffaced (under 30%), firm, posterior cervix with the head at −3 scores 0 — a clearly unfavourable cervix that needs ripening.

Limitations and common pitfalls

  • The score is subjective and can vary between examiners.
  • It was developed in multiparous women in 1964; its value may be lower in first pregnancies and with modern ripening agents, which is why simplified versions and parity-adjusted scores have been proposed.
  • Cut-offs differ: > 8 is the common definition of favourable, while ripening protocols may aim for ≥ 6 in multiparous and ≥ 8 in nulliparous women.
  • It predicts the chance of a successful induction, not whether induction is indicated — that depends on maternal and fetal factors.

Sources

  1. StatPearls — Bishop Score (NCBI Bookshelf, NBK470368)
  2. Role of the Bishop Score in Predicting Successful Induction of Vaginal Delivery: A Systematic Review (PMC12327968)
  3. Reassessing the Bishop score in clinical practice for induction of labor (PMC10500565)

For learning — not for clinical decisions. Reference ranges and cut-offs vary between laboratories and guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the components of the Bishop score?▼
Five cervical and fetal findings on vaginal examination: dilation, effacement and station of the presenting part (each 0–3), and consistency and position of the cervix (each 0–2). The maximum total is 13.
What Bishop score is favourable for induction?▼
A score of more than 8 is widely used to define a favourable cervix; with such a cervix the chance of vaginal delivery after induction is about the same as with spontaneous labour. Exact cut-offs have never been firmly established, and a score below 6 generally means the cervix needs ripening.
What is done when the Bishop score is low?▼
An unfavourable cervix is usually ripened before oxytocin is started — with prostaglandins such as dinoprostone or misoprostol, or with mechanical methods — and then reassessed.
What is the simplified Bishop score?▼
A shortened version that uses only dilation, effacement and station, each scored 0–3. A score above 5 is considered favourable. Research on nulliparous women found these three items carried most of the predictive value.
Who devised the Bishop score?▼
Dr Edward Bishop introduced it in 1964 to predict whether elective induction would succeed. It was developed in multiparous women with the induction methods of that time, and newer ripening strategies may reduce its predictive value.
Is the Bishop score objective?▼
No. It relies on digital examination, so different examiners can score the same cervix differently. Transvaginal ultrasound of cervical length has been studied as an alternative or addition.
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