Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 400; Flight Crew Type 350
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
I was flying VFR near ARCHI at 4;500 ft. descending to GROVE to practice ILS 28R [at] OAK.  I had flight following. Then Center vectored me to heading 270. In this area; I was under the Bravo airspace shelf above; which starts at 6000 feet. All good.  However; the controller vectored me towards the center of Bravo airspace. I continued to follow his guidance and vectors for safety. And then; right as I approached the lower level Bravo airspace (down to 4;000); he said resume own navigation; right as I was against the Bravo wall at 4000 feet. To avoid unsafe maneuvers; I continued on into Bravo airspace and immediately requested a clearance; yet the controller did not clearly grant it me. This was a challenging position; as I had to follow his guidance [and] vectors; but these contradicted other guidance given from him. What could be done in the future is if a controller gives vectors that lead into Bravo airspace; then also give a Bravo clearance.
Pilot describes a situation where he is under flight following and then vectored at an altitude to enter the Class Bravo airspace; but terminated just before entering it.  The pilot had to enter the airspace and then request a clearance to be in it.