As it happens I'm just setting myself up with the zero exams route at the moment.
In case anybody doesn't know, if you have an EASA PPL or CPL, an ICAO (e.g. FAA) IR, and a minimum of 50hrs PiC IFR, then you can present for the EASA IR skill test without having to take any new written exams. As I'm in the happy position of an EASA CPL and an FAA IR, plus the hours, that's what I'm doing in the next few months. The only thing I lose from this is the ability to go from CPL to ATPL, but as that isn't on my personal game plan, I'm fine. If (unlikely) that ever changes, I'll be back to school for a while to do the 14 EASA ATPL writtens.
(Clearly if I present straightaway for an EASA IRT I'll fail it, so I will need instruction, I just don't need that to be within any formal framework, just by a suitably experienced grownup.)
G