At my club there are 12 instructors, 5 of which can sign a pilot off as solo.

There appear to be two methods of training:

Informal: Where the student has to take off, fly around and land, probably doing various maneuvers in flight. Sign off is based on the one flight witnessed by the examiner and also on previous flights witness by the instructor and other club members.

Formal: The club has a sheet with items that need to be signed off. The list is:
Pre-flight check
Ground taxi: must be able to taxi and make L/R turns
Flight turns L/R
Oval Patterns L/R
Figure 8
Point to point
Approach / fly bys L/R
Trims: Instructor moves a trim in flight, student must retrim
Stalls
Landing
Take off

Funnily enough, the list doesn't mention dead sticks but these are usually included (real ones, not 'simulated')

The 3 take offs and landings may seem a bit rigid, but its to ensure consistency. One good landing can be a fluke, three good landings means you are either very lucky or know what you are doing