The sortie was a refly after I had a fuel hiccup. The fuel was perfect on this trip. However, because a SALT mistake is an automatic fail, 2 failed trips and you are out!!! There was seeming no money available for another flight. My instructor was initially going to pass me, acknowledging himself that I was safe at all times, then decided to fail me. Has anyone else done this? This is how it is done in ATC- how is it done in the "real flying world" outside the training environment?