“I was afraid I might fail my fireworks exam, but I passed with flying colors”

Students who pass an exam easily are said to do so “with flying colors.” It’s sometimes joked that the test was a fireworks exam.
 
“Just passed the fireworks inspection with flying colors” was posted on Twitter on June 26, 2009. “Fireworks was in my head the whole time I was doing my math midterm! Maybe I’ll pass with flying colors” was posted on Twitter on December 14, 2010.
   
“I was afraid I might fail my fireworks exam, but I passed with flying colors” was posted on Reddit—Jokes on September 15, 2017.
 
“I passed my paintball exam with flying colors” is a similar “flying colors” joke.
 
       
Wikipedia: With flying colours
“With flying colours” is a popular idiom of the English language. The phrase’s origins relate to ship flags.
   
Twitter
Matt Markarian‏
@mattmarkarian
Just passed the fireworks inspection with flying colors, Shepherd and Chestnut Booth is legal and ready to open on Turesday!
4:03 PM - 26 Jun 2009
 
Twitter
lorely rodriguez‏
@lelyj
Fireworks was in my head the whole time I was doing my math midterm! Maybe I’ll pass with flying colors ; )
9:54 AM - 14 Dec 2010
     
Twitter
Youthful Smartass‏
@YSmartass
I passed my fireworks test with flying colors. #thepunniest
6:58 PM - 15 Nov 2011
     
Twitter
Jonathan James‏
@imjonathanjames
Passed my display fireworks class… With flying colors! #fb
2:26 PM - 8 May 2012
 
Twitter
Berto‏
@PBerto_
Math is just not my thing. If there was a class on how to sell fireworks I would pass with flying colors
9:20 AM - 14 Nov 2012
 
Twitter
Corn Peters‏
@OneWhoHappens
If I were to test the fireworks outside they’d
pass with flying colors
8:58 AM - 31 Dec 2013
 
Twitter
Just me and my JD‏
@Lawbooksnlattes
I passed the MPRE with flying colors. All the colors, and a fireworks show.
7:52 AM - 13 Apr 2017
 
Reddit—Jokes
I was afraid I might fail my fireworks exam
submitted September 15, 2017 by EpicalaxyMaster
But I passed with flying colors