Well, over here it seems you need a rating in order to fly one, so no question of being checked out or not. There was a blooper - promptly corrected - in one of the UK flying magazines to the effect that you didn't need a rating.
I'd confess that my ability is outstripped by the capability of most aircraft I've flown. It's not something I've worried about - surely the idea is just to gain some impression of where the edges of your ability lie in order to be safe enough to practice.