You don't for a SEP rating you can do it by currency which is 10 hours in the final year and 1 hour with an instructor which I might add is not a check its just an hour dual.
MEP is a check ride which can be combined with a IR MEP.
The flight to do you IR renewal can be used as you 1 hour with an instructor So the IRE can sign you off on MEP, SEP (provided you have the other hours) and IR on the one SPA ME IR in a MEP.