CRAB - you ask the question - do they BRIEF every exercise on the check ride.
This is EXAMINING you are talking about. The Examiner, during the brief which should follow the very strict guidelines in the Examiners Handbook and/or STDS Doc 24 H, should establish an environment conducive to a successful test.
Part of that requirement involves, by Q and A session establishing if the candidate understands the exercises to be performed. The Examiner MUST give him the exercise list. This is not a training brief and could lead to the Test/Check not even being performed if the candidate demonstrates he is not ready/adequately prepared for the Test.
If done in the aircraft, an essential safety brief must be given. This will naturally entail responsibilities, call outs and by necessity, an agreement of exactly what the student intend to to for each CRITICAL procedure.
Once flying, clear guidelines are in place to allow the Examiner latitude to retest an item in flight. Essentially, if the candidates does not demonstrate competency on the first attempt, providing he can self diagnose his mistakes, he gets a second attempt. However the Examiner is permitted further latitude for certain emergencies like autos, to offer some guidance to improve attempt number 2. Now does this sound familiar to you? Of course it does because this appears, from your own posts, how you train and instruct.
Unfortunately what I am describing is TESTING.
A Question for you, are you an authorised FE, TRE or SFE?