What? If he didn't do everything until the 5th flight, that's when he soloed.

At my club, soloing is: (Without buddy box)
Student starts engine, student carries or taxis plane to runway, taxis out and takes off.
Student flys a pattern suggested by the instructor. At our club this includes, at a minimum, oval patterns where the same altitude MUST be held through the turns. Figure eights in both directions, altitude again must remain level, and the halves of the "eight" should be similar is size.
Generally at least one loop and one roll (in each direction) and a stall turn (or hammerhead).
A slow fly by at approximately 20 feet.
(Touch and goes are optional, I like to have the student do at least one.)
A "proper" landing. ie, with a visible downwind leg, base leg and final approach, with a controlled landing,on the runway. (The instructor may request additional landings if the plane bounces or comes in too hot.) The engine must remain running, and the student taxis the plane back to the flight line.

The instructor is usually sitting back in the pits, or may be standing somewhere close to the student so that instructions can be heard. But at no time does the instructor touch the sticks or even stand beside the student.

My $1.98
Dennis-