I remember when I started learning the circuit the first lesson was stop and backtrack but from then on it was touch and goes for 6 or so hours until my first solo. I had done 3 circuits prior to my first solo with the head instructor next to me. I completely trusted his judgment at the time (and still do) and had he asked me to land and backtrack instead I would have done so, but he asked for 3 solo circuits so 3 solo circuits is what he got.