That sounds very strange. Doing an electrical failure for real sounds plausible, but I've never heard of it before.
The first thing I thought of was that he meant that some of your checks would be for real. For example (depending on type, of course) your emergency checklist might include switching the carb heat position, ensuring the mixture is fully rich, and changing fuel tanks (all of which can be done for real). It would also involve checking the throttle is open, which you would simulate by touching the throttle lever. Other examples of checks you would simulate would be the actions after "failing" to re-start the engine - shutting off the fuel and electrics, for example, would be simulated by touching the appropriate controls.
Maybe the best thing would be to ask the examiner? Or ask your instructor to ask the examiner?
FFF
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