In this paper a new method for gyroscopic sensitivity evaluation of a vibrating angular rate sensor is presented. This method is used to evaluate the angular rate sensitivity of a four-beam-bridge gyroscope realized at IMT Neuchatel [ii. The frequency splitting between the excitation and the detection mode due to mechanical mode coupling is investigated. A design variant with optimized dimensions is proposed in order to reduce frequency splitting and increase the angular rate sensitivity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.