Four. First I wasn't hugely ready but the examiner I got had been kicked out locally for being such a git and brought back only while someone was away. He was shouting at me before we got to the car (I was reading numberplates off cars way further than he could see, and then I'd put the wheel into steering lock and didn't know how to start the car), but I did do one of the things he failed me on.
2nd, 3 years later after uni, only one mark on my whole test sheet - X for touching the kerb when reversing round a corner. WHich had a road hump in it, was really shallow, and hadn't been built 3 days earlier! Had to turn down a job because of that. And then take the new theory test.
3rd, car was written off day before my test, so had to borrow one. Not good.
2 years later, vowed to continue until I passed, begged BSM for an instructor who would get me through the test, sod learning to 'drive', and preferably without BO. The chap fulfilled both criteria admirably! Test took an hour though as couldn't find anywhere for me to do an emergency stop without small children coming home from school in the way...