The main objectives of this paper are twofold. First, it centres on identifying the beliefs and theories of future secondary school teachers about education and, second, on analysing the relationship between these theories and the way exams are designed and how classroom space is organised. The test instruments used were applied to a sample of 52 graduates, who were all following the Pedagogical Aptitude Course (CAP) during the academic year 2001-02. Results show that the more traditional teaching models (focused on the teacher) are related with a kind of exam based on rote learning and with a more vertical classroom layout. Significant differences were also found to exist between sciences and arts teachers with regard to the type of exams they set.