Hmmmm, a semi-brain dead GA examiner here.
I will fail a candidate who applies power before the centrally forward bit.
I will probably pass an individual who is slightly slow on applying power after reducing AOA.
If I perceive that both are being applied together, I will ask the candidate a couple of probing questions about stalls in order to ensure they know what they are doing and the recovery we have just experienced wasn't down to luck.