diff --git a/cms/static/cms/js/spec/main_spec.js b/cms/static/cms/js/spec/main_spec.js
index 8b9f27d0bd73..ec92021fab54 100644
--- a/cms/static/cms/js/spec/main_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/cms/js/spec/main_spec.js
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
     'use strict';
 
     // eslint-disable-next-line global-require
-    require(['jquery', 'backbone', 'cms/js/main', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'jquery.cookie'],
-        function($, Backbone, main, AjaxHelpers) {
+    require(['jquery', 'backbone', 'sinon', 'cms/js/main', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'jquery.cookie'],
+        function($, Backbone, sinon, main, AjaxHelpers) {
             describe('CMS', function() {
                 it('should initialize URL', function() {
                     expect(window.CMS.URL).toBeDefined();
@@ -34,21 +34,17 @@
             });
             describe('AJAX Errors', function() {
                 var server;
-                server = null;
                 beforeEach(function() {
+                    server = sinon.fakeServer.create();
                     appendSetFixtures(sandbox({
                         id: 'page-notification'
                     }));
                 });
                 afterEach(function() {
-                    return server && server.restore();
+                    server.restore();
                 });
                 it('successful AJAX request does not pop an error notification', function() {
-                    server = AjaxHelpers.server([
-                        200, {
-                            'Content-Type': 'application/json'
-                        }, '{}'
-                    ]);
+                    server.respondWith([200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}, '{}']);
                     expect($('#page-notification')).toBeEmpty();
                     $.ajax('/test');
                     expect($('#page-notification')).toBeEmpty();
@@ -56,22 +52,14 @@
                     expect($('#page-notification')).toBeEmpty();
                 });
                 it('AJAX request with error should pop an error notification', function() {
-                    server = AjaxHelpers.server([
-                        500, {
-                            'Content-Type': 'application/json'
-                        }, '{}'
-                    ]);
+                    server.respondWith([500, {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}, '{}']);
                     $.ajax('/test');
                     server.respond();
                     expect($('#page-notification')).not.toBeEmpty();
                     expect($('#page-notification')).toContainElement('div.wrapper-notification-error');
                 });
                 it('can override AJAX request with error so it does not pop an error notification', function() {
-                    server = AjaxHelpers.server([
-                        500, {
-                            'Content-Type': 'application/json'
-                        }, '{}'
-                    ]);
+                    server.respondWith([500, {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}, '{}']);
                     $.ajax({
                         url: '/test',
                         notifyOnError: false
diff --git a/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_details_spec.js b/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_details_spec.js
index b803bd0cbe76..ed93e3942f81 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_details_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_details_spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 define([
     'underscore',
+    'sinon',
     'js/models/course',
     'js/certificates/collections/certificates',
     'js/certificates/models/certificate',
@@ -14,10 +15,12 @@ define([
     'js/spec_helpers/validation_helpers',
     'js/certificates/spec/custom_matchers'
 ],
-function(_, Course, CertificatesCollection, CertificateModel, CertificateDetailsView, CertificatePreview,
+function(_, sinon, Course, CertificatesCollection, CertificateModel, CertificateDetailsView, CertificatePreview,
     Notification, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, ValidationHelpers, CustomMatchers) {
     'use strict';
 
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
+
     var SELECTORS = {
         detailsView: '.certificate-details',
         editView: '.certificate-edit',
@@ -58,6 +61,11 @@ function(_, Course, CertificatesCollection, CertificateModel, CertificateDetails
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             window.course = new Course({
                 id: '5',
                 name: 'Course Name',
@@ -108,6 +116,7 @@ function(_, Course, CertificatesCollection, CertificateModel, CertificateDetails
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             delete window.course;
             delete window.certWebPreview;
             delete window.CMS.User;
@@ -228,8 +237,7 @@ function(_, Course, CertificatesCollection, CertificateModel, CertificateDetails
             });
 
             it('correctly persists changes made during in-line signatory editing', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
 
                 this.view.$(SELECTORS.edit_signatory).click();
 
diff --git a/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_editor_spec.js b/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_editor_spec.js
index 64ef492c82ca..bace47fe0b4d 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_editor_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_editor_spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 define([
     'underscore',
+    'sinon',
     'js/models/course',
     'js/certificates/models/certificate',
     'js/certificates/models/signatory',
@@ -14,11 +15,12 @@ define([
     'js/spec_helpers/validation_helpers',
     'js/certificates/spec/custom_matchers'
 ],
-function(_, Course, CertificateModel, SignatoryModel, CertificatesCollection, CertificateEditorView,
+function(_, sinon, Course, CertificateModel, SignatoryModel, CertificatesCollection, CertificateEditorView,
     Notification, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, ValidationHelpers, CustomMatchers) {
     'use strict';
 
     var MAX_SIGNATORIES_LIMIT = 10;
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
     var SELECTORS = {
         detailsView: '.certificate-details',
         editView: '.certificate-edit',
@@ -45,8 +47,7 @@ function(_, Course, CertificateModel, SignatoryModel, CertificatesCollection, Ce
     };
 
     var clickDeleteItem = function(that, promptText, element, url) {
-        var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(that),
-            promptSpy = ViewHelpers.createPromptSpy(),
+        var promptSpy = ViewHelpers.createPromptSpy(),
             notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
         that.view.$(element).click();
 
@@ -129,6 +130,11 @@ function(_, Course, CertificateModel, SignatoryModel, CertificatesCollection, Ce
 
         describe('Basic', function() {
             beforeEach(function() {
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
                 appendSetFixtures(
                     $('<script>', {id: 'basic-modal-tpl', type: 'text/template'}).text(basicModalTpl)
                 );
@@ -141,6 +147,7 @@ function(_, Course, CertificateModel, SignatoryModel, CertificatesCollection, Ce
             });
 
             afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
                 $('.wrapper-modal-window-assetupload').remove();
             });
 
@@ -157,8 +164,7 @@ function(_, Course, CertificateModel, SignatoryModel, CertificatesCollection, Ce
             });
 
             it('should save properly', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+                var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
                 this.view.$('.action-add').click();
 
                 setValuesToInputs(this.view, {
@@ -174,8 +180,7 @@ function(_, Course, CertificateModel, SignatoryModel, CertificatesCollection, Ce
             });
 
             it('does not hide saving message if failure', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+                var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
                 this.view.$(SELECTORS.inputCertificateName).val('New Test Name');
                 this.view.$(SELECTORS.inputCertificateDescription).val('New Test Description');
                 ViewHelpers.submitAndVerifyFormError(this.view, requests, notificationSpy);
@@ -293,8 +298,7 @@ function(_, Course, CertificateModel, SignatoryModel, CertificatesCollection, Ce
             });
 
             it('signatories should save properly', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+                var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
                 this.view.$('.action-add').click();
 
                 setValuesToInputs(this.view, {
diff --git a/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_preview_spec.js b/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_preview_spec.js
index ed7f07895173..eccaf94c5326 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_preview_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/certificates/spec/views/certificate_preview_spec.js
@@ -3,15 +3,18 @@
 define([
     'underscore',
     'jquery',
+    'sinon',
     'js/models/course',
     'js/certificates/views/certificate_preview',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers'
 ],
-function(_, $, Course, CertificatePreview, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, AjaxHelpers) {
+function(_, $, sinon, Course, CertificatePreview, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, AjaxHelpers) {
     'use strict';
 
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
+
     var SELECTORS = {
         course_modes: '#course-modes',
         activate_certificate: '.activate-cert',
@@ -27,6 +30,11 @@ function(_, $, Course, CertificatePreview, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, AjaxHel
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             window.course = new Course({
                 id: '5',
                 name: 'Course Name',
@@ -50,6 +58,7 @@ function(_, $, Course, CertificatePreview, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, AjaxHel
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             delete window.course;
             delete window.CMS.User;
         });
@@ -84,8 +93,7 @@ function(_, $, Course, CertificatePreview, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, AjaxHel
             });
 
             it('certificate deactivation works fine', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
                 this.view.$(SELECTORS.activate_certificate).click();
                 AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'POST', '/certificates/activation/' + window.course.id, {
                     is_active: false
@@ -94,8 +102,7 @@ function(_, $, Course, CertificatePreview, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, AjaxHel
             });
 
             it('certificate activation works fine', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
                 this.view.is_active = false;
                 this.view.$(SELECTORS.activate_certificate).click();
                 AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'POST', '/certificates/activation/' + window.course.id, {
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/models/section_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/models/section_spec.js
index c0c89c2d15d8..d5e9350bc355 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/models/section_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/models/section_spec.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * DS102: Remove unnecessary code created because of implicit returns
  * Full docs: https://github.com/decaffeinate/decaffeinate/blob/master/docs/suggestions.md
  */
-define(["js/models/section", "edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers", "js/utils/module"], (Section, AjaxHelpers, ModuleUtils) =>
+define(["js/models/section", "sinon", "edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers", "js/utils/module"], (Section, sinon, AjaxHelpers, ModuleUtils) =>
     describe("Section", function() {
         describe("basic", function() {
             beforeEach(function() {
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ define(["js/models/section", "edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers"
         });
 
         describe("XHR", function() {
+            var server;
             beforeEach(function() {
+                server = sinon.fakeServer.create();
                 spyOn(Section.prototype, 'showNotification');
                 spyOn(Section.prototype, 'hideNotification');
                 this.model = new Section({
@@ -45,9 +47,12 @@ define(["js/models/section", "edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers"
                 });
             });
 
-            it("show/hide a notification when it saves to the server", function() {
-                const server = AjaxHelpers.server([200, {"Content-Type": "application/json"}, "{}"]);
+            afterEach(function() {
+                server.restore();
+            });
 
+            it("show/hide a notification when it saves to the server", function() {
+                server.respondWith([200, {"Content-Type": "application/json"}, "{}"]);
                 this.model.save();
                 expect(Section.prototype.showNotification).toHaveBeenCalled();
                 server.respond();
@@ -56,8 +61,7 @@ define(["js/models/section", "edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers"
 
             it("don't hide notification when saving fails", function() {
                 // this is handled by the global AJAX error handler
-                const server = AjaxHelpers.server([500, {"Content-Type": "application/json"}, "{}"]);
-
+                server.respondWith([500, {"Content-Type": "application/json"}, "{}"]);
                 this.model.save();
                 server.respond();
                 expect(Section.prototype.hideNotification).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/utils/drag_and_drop_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/utils/drag_and_drop_spec.js
index 36fa061a0e65..166d33e8c046 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/utils/drag_and_drop_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/utils/drag_and_drop_spec.js
@@ -303,18 +303,24 @@ function(sinon, ContentDragger, Notification, AjaxHelpers, $, _) {
             });
         });
         describe('AJAX', function() {
+            var requests, xhrFactory;
             beforeEach(function() {
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
                 this.savingSpies = jasmine.stealth.spyOnConstructor(Notification, 'Mini', ['show', 'hide']);
                 this.savingSpies.show.and.returnValue(this.savingSpies);
                 this.clock = sinon.useFakeTimers();
             });
             afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
                 this.clock.restore();
                 jasmine.stealth.clearSpies();
             });
             it('should send an update on reorder from one parent to another', function() {
-                var requests, request, savingOptions;
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+                var request, savingOptions;
                 ContentDragger.dragState.dropDestination = $('#unit-4');
                 ContentDragger.dragState.attachMethod = 'after';
                 ContentDragger.dragState.parentList = $('#subsection-2');
@@ -345,8 +351,7 @@ function(sinon, ContentDragger, Notification, AjaxHelpers, $, _) {
                 expect($('#subsection-2').data('refresh')).toHaveBeenCalled();
             });
             it('should send an update on reorder within the same parent', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    request;
+                var request;
                 ContentDragger.dragState.dropDestination = $('#unit-2');
                 ContentDragger.dragState.attachMethod = 'after';
                 ContentDragger.dragState.parentList = $('#subsection-1');
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/assets_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/assets_spec.js
index e2105df2d73a..bb1e76b831a0 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/assets_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/assets_spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-define(['jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'URI', 'js/views/assets',
+define(['jquery', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'URI', 'js/views/assets',
     'js/collections/asset', 'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers'],
-function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
     describe('Assets', function() {
         var assetsView, mockEmptyAssetsResponse, mockAssetUploadResponse, mockFileUpload,
             assetLibraryTpl, assetTpl, uploadModalTpl;
@@ -10,6 +11,36 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
         uploadModalTpl = readFixtures('asset-upload-modal.underscore');
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            // Fake XHR must be installed BEFORE new AssetsView() for two reasons:
+            //
+            // 1. AssetsView.initialize() calls createPagingView() which immediately calls
+            //    pagingView.setPage(1), firing an AJAX request. If real XHR is active at that
+            //    point, the request goes to Karma's server which returns 404. Jasmine 2.x
+            //    schedules beforeEach and it() with setTimeout(0) between them, giving the
+            //    browser event loop a window to process pending async work. The Karma 404
+            //    response fires during that window, triggering AssetsView's error callback
+            //    -> getTableBody() -> DOM creation -> .upload-button becomes visible. Tests
+            //    that check this button is hidden (in loading state) then fail.
+            //
+            // 2. This test suite tests the loading -> loaded state transition. Several tests
+            //    call setup() inside it(), which calls setPage(1) and responds to it, driving
+            //    the view from "loading" to "loaded". That precondition requires the view to
+            //    still be in "loading" state at the start of it(). Responding to the init
+            //    request in beforeEach (to avoid the dangling request) would put the view
+            //    into "loaded" state too early and break those assertions.
+            //
+            // With sinon installed first, the init setPage(1) is captured as requests[0] —
+            // a frozen pending fake request that never gets a response unless explicitly told
+            // to. No response means no callbacks, no DOM mutation, view stays in "loading"
+            // state. We advance currentIndex to 1 so AjaxHelpers treats that request as
+            // already consumed; test-driven setPage() calls start at index 1. The pending
+            // requests[0] is abandoned when xhrFactory.restore() runs in afterEach.
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+
             setFixtures($('<script>', {id: 'asset-library-tpl', type: 'text/template'}).text(assetLibraryTpl));
             appendSetFixtures($('<script>', {id: 'asset-tpl', type: 'text/template'}).text(assetTpl));
             appendSetFixtures(uploadModalTpl);
@@ -29,8 +60,16 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
                 collection: collection,
                 el: $('#asset_table_body')
             });
-
+            // render() calls afterRender(), which binds the close-button click handler
+            // against the upload modal already in the fixture DOM (from appendSetFixtures
+            // above). render() itself issues no XHR (pagingView.render() is a no-op), so
+            // requests[0] is still the init setPage from new AssetsView() above.
             assetsView.render();
+            requests.currentIndex = 1;
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         var mockAsset = {
@@ -143,7 +182,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
         describe('AssetsView', function() {
             var setup;
             setup = function(responseData) {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 assetsView.pagingView.setPage(1);
                 if (!responseData) {
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyAssetsResponse);
@@ -274,7 +312,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
 
             it('make sure _toggleFilterColumn filters asset list', function() {
                 expect(assetsView).toBeDefined();
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 $.each(assetsView.pagingView.filterableColumns, function(columnID, columnData) {
                     var $typeColumn = $('#' + columnID);
                     assetsView.pagingView.setPage(1);
@@ -306,7 +343,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
 
             it('check filtering works with sorting by column on', function() {
                 expect(assetsView).toBeDefined();
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 assetsView.pagingView.registerSortableColumn('name-col', 'Name Column', 'nameField', 'asc');
                 assetsView.pagingView.registerFilterableColumn('js-asset-type-col', gettext('Type'), 'asset_type');
                 assetsView.pagingView.setInitialSortColumn('name-col');
@@ -323,7 +359,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
 
             it('shows type select menu, selects type, and filters results', function() {
                 expect(assetsView).toBeDefined();
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 $.each(assetsView.pagingView.filterableColumns, function(columnID, columnData) {
                     assetsView.pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockAssets(requests);
@@ -420,7 +455,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
                     };
 
                 it('can move forward a page using the next page button', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     assetsView.pagingView.setPage(1);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, firstPageAssets);
                     expect(assetsView.pagingView.pagingFooter).toBeDefined();
@@ -433,7 +467,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
                 });
 
                 it('can move back a page using the previous page button', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     assetsView.pagingView.setPage(2);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, secondPageAssets);
                     expect(assetsView.pagingView.pagingFooter).toBeDefined();
@@ -446,7 +479,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, URI, AssetsView, AssetCollection, ViewHelpers) {
                 });
 
                 it('can set the current page using the page number input', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     assetsView.pagingView.setPage(1);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, firstPageAssets);
                     assetsView.pagingView.pagingFooter.$('#page-number-input').val('2');
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/assets_squire_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/assets_squire_spec.js
index 38abf8b0407c..33f3329c51e1 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/assets_squire_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/assets_squire_spec.js
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
-define(["jquery", "edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers", "squire"],
-function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
+define(["jquery", "sinon", "edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers", "squire"],
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
 
     const assetLibraryTpl = readFixtures('asset-library.underscore');
     const assetTpl = readFixtures('asset.underscore');
 
     describe("Asset view", function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function(done) {
             setFixtures($("<script>", {id: "asset-tpl", type: "text/template"}).text(assetTpl));
             appendSetFixtures(sandbox({id: "page-prompt"}));
@@ -46,31 +48,37 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
 
                     this.collection = new AssetCollection([this.model]);
                     this.collection.url = "assets-url";
-                    this.createAssetView = test => {
+                    this.createAssetView = () => {
                         const view = new AssetView({model: this.model});
-                        const requests = test ? AjaxHelpers["requests"](test) : null;
-                        return {view, requests};
+                        return {view};
                     };
                     return done();
             });
         });
 
+        beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+        });
+
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             this.injector.clean();
             this.injector.remove();
         });
 
         describe("Basic", function() {
             it("should render properly", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetView());
+                this.view = this.createAssetView().view;
                 this.view.render();
                 expect(this.view.$el).toContainText("test asset");
             });
 
             it("should pop a delete confirmation when the delete button is clicked", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetView());
+                this.view = this.createAssetView().view;
                 this.view.render().$(".remove-asset-button").click();
                 expect(this.promptSpies.constructor).toHaveBeenCalled();
                 const ctorOptions = this.promptSpies.constructor.calls.mostRecent().args[0];
@@ -83,8 +91,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
 
         describe("AJAX", function() {
             it("should destroy itself on confirmation", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetView().view;
 
                 this.view.render().$(".remove-asset-button").click();
                 const ctorOptions = this.promptSpies.constructor.calls.mostRecent().args[0];
@@ -105,8 +112,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should not destroy itself if server errors", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetView().view;
 
                 this.view.render().$(".remove-asset-button").click();
                 const ctorOptions = this.promptSpies.constructor.calls.mostRecent().args[0];
@@ -121,8 +127,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should lock the asset on confirmation", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetView().view;
 
                 this.view.render().$(".lock-checkbox").click();
                 // AJAX request has been sent, but not yet returned
@@ -140,8 +145,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should not lock the asset if server errors", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetView().view;
 
                 this.view.render().$(".lock-checkbox").click();
                 // return an error response
@@ -154,6 +158,8 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
     });
 
     describe("Assets view", function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function(done) {
             setFixtures($("<script>", {id: "asset-library-tpl", type: "text/template"}).text(assetLibraryTpl));
             appendSetFixtures($("<script>", {id: "asset-tpl", type: "text/template"}).text(assetTpl));
@@ -202,14 +208,13 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
                     this.AssetModel = AssetModel;
                     this.collection = new AssetCollection();
                     this.collection.url = "assets-url";
-                    this.createAssetsView = test => {
-                        const requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
+                    this.createAssetsView = () => {
                         const view = new AssetsView({
                             collection: this.collection,
                             el: $('#asset_table_body')
                         });
                         view.render();
-                        return {view, requests};
+                        return {view};
                     };
                     return done();
             });
@@ -217,7 +222,16 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             return $.ajax();
         });
 
+        beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+        });
+
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             delete window.analytics;
             delete window.course_location_analytics;
 
@@ -271,8 +285,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             const clickEvent = html_selector => $(html_selector).click();
 
             it("should show upload modal on clicking upload asset button", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 spyOn(this.view, "showUploadModal");
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 expect(this.view.showUploadModal).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -281,8 +294,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should show file selection menu on choose file button", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 spyOn(this.view, "showFileSelectionMenu");
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 expect(this.view.showFileSelectionMenu).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -291,8 +303,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should hide upload modal on clicking close button", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 spyOn(this.view, "hideModal");
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 expect(this.view.hideModal).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -301,8 +312,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should show a status indicator while loading", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 appendSetFixtures('<div class="ui-loading"/>');
                 expect($('.ui-loading').is(':visible')).toBe(true);
                 setup.call(this, requests);
@@ -310,8 +320,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should hide the status indicator if an error occurs while loading", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 appendSetFixtures('<div class="ui-loading"/>');
                 expect($('.ui-loading').is(':visible')).toBe(true);
                 this.view.pagingView.setPage(1);
@@ -320,16 +329,14 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should render both assets", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 expect(this.view.$el).toContainText("test asset 1");
                 expect(this.view.$el).toContainText("test asset 2");
             });
 
             it("should remove the deleted asset from the view", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, this.mockAssetsResponse);
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 // Delete the 2nd asset with success from server.
@@ -341,8 +348,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("does not remove asset if deletion failed", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 // Delete the 2nd asset, but mimic a failure from the server.
                 this.view.$(".remove-asset-button")[1].click();
@@ -353,8 +359,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("adds an asset if asset does not already exist", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 addMockAsset.call(this, requests);
                 expect(this.view.$el).toContainText("new asset");
@@ -362,8 +367,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("does not add an asset if asset already exists", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 spyOn(this.collection, "add").and.callThrough();
                 const model = this.collection.models[1];
@@ -380,16 +384,14 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             };
 
             it("should have the correct default sort order", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 expect(this.view.pagingView.sortDisplayName()).toBe("Date Added");
                 expect(this.view.collection.sortDirection).toBe("desc");
             });
 
             it("should toggle the sort order when clicking on the currently sorted column", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 expect(this.view.pagingView.sortDisplayName()).toBe("Date Added");
                 expect(this.view.collection.sortDirection).toBe("desc");
@@ -404,8 +406,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should switch the sort order when clicking on a different column", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 this.view.$("#js-asset-name-col").click();
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, this.mockAssetsResponse);
@@ -418,8 +419,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
             });
 
             it("should switch sort to most recent date added when a new asset is added", function() {
-                let requests;
-                ({view: this.view, requests} = this.createAssetsView(this));
+                this.view = this.createAssetsView().view;
                 setup.call(this, requests);
                 this.view.$("#js-asset-name-col").click();
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, this.mockAssetsResponse);
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/container_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/container_spec.js
index f963353cc3ec..34ad84c5e24a 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/container_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/container_spec.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import $ from 'jquery';
+import sinon from 'sinon';
 import AjaxHelpers from 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers';
 import EditHelpers from 'js/spec_helpers/edit_helpers';
 import ContainerView from 'js/views/container';
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
     describe('Supports reordering components', () => {
         var model, containerView, mockContainerHTML, init, getComponent,
             getDragHandle, dragComponentVertically, dragComponentAbove,
-            verifyRequest, verifyNumReorderCalls, respondToRequest, notificationSpy,
+            verifyRequest, verifyNumReorderCalls, respondToRequest, notificationSpy, requests, xhrFactory,
 
             rootLocator = 'locator-container',
             containerTestUrl = '/xblock/' + rootLocator,
@@ -32,6 +33,11 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
         mockContainerHTML = readFixtures('templates/mock/mock-container-xblock.underscore');
 
         beforeEach(() => {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             EditHelpers.installMockXBlock();
             EditHelpers.installViewTemplates();
             appendSetFixtures('<div class="wrapper-xblock level-page studio-xblock-wrapper" data-locator="' + rootLocator + '"></div>');
@@ -50,12 +56,12 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
         });
 
         afterEach(() => {
+            requests.restore();
             EditHelpers.uninstallMockXBlock();
             containerView.remove();
         });
 
-        init = function(caller) {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(caller);
+        init = function() {
             containerView.render();
 
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {
@@ -76,7 +82,6 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
             // drag and drop fails as the elements on bunched on top of each other.
             $('.level-element').css('height', 230);
 
-            return requests;
         };
 
         getComponent = function(locator) {
@@ -132,7 +137,7 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
         };
 
         it('can reorder within a group', () => {
-            var requests = init(this);
+            init();
             // Drag the third component in Group A to be the first
             dragComponentAbove(groupAComponent3, groupAComponent1);
             respondToRequest(requests, 0, 200);
@@ -140,7 +145,7 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
         });
 
         it('can drag from one group to another', () => {
-            var requests = init(this);
+            init();
             // Drag the first component in Group B to the top of group A.
             dragComponentAbove(groupBComponent1, groupAComponent1);
 
@@ -154,7 +159,7 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
         });
 
         it('does not remove from old group if addition to new group fails', () => {
-            var requests = init(this);
+            init();
             // Drag the first component in Group B to the first group.
             dragComponentAbove(groupBComponent1, groupAComponent1);
             respondToRequest(requests, 0, 500);
@@ -166,7 +171,7 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
         });
 
         it('can swap group A and group B', () => {
-            var requests = init(this);
+            init();
             // Drag Group B before group A.
             dragComponentAbove(groupB, groupA);
             respondToRequest(requests, 0, 200);
@@ -175,8 +180,8 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
 
         describe('Shows a saving message', () => {
             it('hides saving message upon success', () => {
-                var requests, savingOptions;
-                requests = init(this);
+                var savingOptions;
+                init();
 
                 // Drag the first component in Group B to the first group.
                 dragComponentAbove(groupBComponent1, groupAComponent1);
@@ -188,7 +193,7 @@ describe('Container View', () => {
             });
 
             it('does not hide saving message if failure', () => {
-                var requests = init(this);
+                init();
 
                 // Drag the first component in Group B to the first group.
                 dragComponentAbove(groupBComponent1, groupAComponent1);
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/group_configuration_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/group_configuration_spec.js
index d197c64d10f8..d05be0f1515d 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/group_configuration_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/group_configuration_spec.js
@@ -1,18 +1,49 @@
 define([
-    'underscore', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
+    'underscore', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers', 'js/models/course', 'js/models/group_configuration', 'js/models/group',
     'js/collections/group_configuration', 'js/collections/group', 'js/views/group_configuration_details',
     'js/views/group_configurations_list', 'js/views/group_configuration_editor', 'js/views/group_configuration_item',
     'js/views/experiment_group_edit', 'js/views/partition_group_list', 'js/views/partition_group_details',
     'js/views/content_group_editor', 'js/views/partition_group_item'
 ], function(
-    _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, Course, GroupConfigurationModel, GroupModel,
+    _, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, Course, GroupConfigurationModel, GroupModel,
     GroupConfigurationCollection, GroupCollection, GroupConfigurationDetailsView, GroupConfigurationsListView,
     GroupConfigurationEditorView, GroupConfigurationItemView, ExperimentGroupEditView, GroupList,
     PartitionGroupDetailsView, ContentGroupEditorView, PartitionGroupItemView
 ) {
     'use strict';
 
+    // Wrap all specs in a single describe so that the beforeEach/afterEach below are
+    // scoped to this file only. Without this wrapper those hooks sit at the top level of
+    // the AMD factory, which Jasmine treats as global hooks — they run before/after every
+    // spec in the entire test suite, not just the ones in this file. That causes two problems:
+    //
+    //   1. sinon conflict: other spec files also call sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest() in their
+    //      own beforeEach. In sinon v19, restoring one factory clears the .restore() method
+    //      on all other active factories. When the global afterEach then calls
+    //      xhrFactory.restore(), it throws "TypeError: xhrFactory.restore is not a function".
+    //
+    //   2. State leak: the global afterEach deletes window.course, corrupting tests in other
+    //      spec files that set up window.course in their own beforeEach.
+    describe('Group Configurations', function() {
+
+    // Pre-populate the jasmine-fixtures cache for every template used in the inner
+    // beforeEach blocks below. The outer beforeEach installs sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest(),
+    // which intercepts the synchronous XHR that readFixtures() uses to load .underscore
+    // files from the Karma server. Calling readFixtures() here — at describe-body level,
+    // before any beforeEach runs — loads the files over real XHR and caches the results.
+    // Subsequent readFixtures() calls inside beforeEach then return from cache without
+    // making a new (intercepted) request.
+    readFixtures(
+        'group-configuration-details.underscore',
+        'group-configuration-editor.underscore',
+        'group-edit.underscore',
+        'list.underscore',
+        'content-group-editor.underscore',
+        'partition-group-details.underscore'
+    );
+
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
     var SELECTORS = {
         detailsView: '.group-configuration-details',
         editView: '.group-configuration-edit',
@@ -101,8 +132,7 @@ define([
         expect(view.$(editView)).not.toExist();
     };
     var assertAndDeleteItemError = function(that, url, promptText) {
-        var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(that),
-            promptSpy = ViewHelpers.createPromptSpy(),
+        var promptSpy = ViewHelpers.createPromptSpy(),
             notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
 
         ViewHelpers.clickDeleteItem(that, promptSpy, promptText);
@@ -114,8 +144,7 @@ define([
         expect($(SELECTORS.itemView)).not.toExist();
     };
     var assertAndDeleteItemWithError = function(that, url, listItemView, promptText) {
-        var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(that),
-            promptSpy = ViewHelpers.createPromptSpy(),
+        var promptSpy = ViewHelpers.createPromptSpy(),
             notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
 
         ViewHelpers.clickDeleteItem(that, promptSpy, promptText);
@@ -143,6 +172,11 @@ define([
     };
 
     beforeEach(function() {
+        xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+        requests = [];
+        requests.currentIndex = 0;
+        requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+        xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         window.course = new Course({
             id: '5',
             name: 'Course Name',
@@ -220,6 +254,7 @@ define([
     });
 
     afterEach(function() {
+        requests.restore();
         delete window.course;
     });
 
@@ -400,8 +435,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should save properly', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy(),
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy(),
                 groups;
 
             this.view.$('.action-add-group').click();
@@ -424,8 +458,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('does not hide saving message if failure', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
 
             setValuesToInputs(this.view, {inputName: 'New Configuration'});
             ViewHelpers.submitAndVerifyFormError(this.view, requests, notificationSpy);
@@ -463,8 +496,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should be possible to correct validation errors', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
             // Set incorrect value
             setValuesToInputs(this.view, {inputName: ''});
             // Try to save
@@ -798,8 +829,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can create an initial group and save', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
+            var newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
                 view = renderView();
             editNewGroup(view, {newName: newGroupName, save: true});
             respondToSave(requests, view);
@@ -808,8 +838,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can add another group and save', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                oldGroupName = 'Old Group Name',
+            var oldGroupName = 'Old Group Name',
                 newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
                 view = renderView({1: oldGroupName});
             editNewGroup(view, {newName: newGroupName, save: true});
@@ -819,8 +848,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can cancel adding a group', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
+            var newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
                 view = renderView();
             editNewGroup(view, {newName: newGroupName, cancel: true});
             AjaxHelpers.expectNoRequests(requests);
@@ -829,8 +857,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can cancel editing a group', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                originalGroupName = 'Original Group Name',
+            var originalGroupName = 'Original Group Name',
                 view = renderView([originalGroupName]);
             editExistingGroup(view, {newName: 'New Group Name', cancel: true});
             verifyEditingGroup(view, false);
@@ -839,8 +866,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can show and correct a validation error', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
+            var newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
                 view = renderView();
             editNewGroup(view, {newName: '', save: true});
             AjaxHelpers.expectNoRequests(requests);
@@ -848,8 +874,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can not invalidate an existing content group', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                oldGroupName = 'Old Group Name',
+            var oldGroupName = 'Old Group Name',
                 view = renderView([oldGroupName]);
             editExistingGroup(view, {newName: '', save: true});
             AjaxHelpers.expectNoRequests(requests);
@@ -857,8 +882,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('trims whitespace', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
+            var newGroupName = 'New Group Name',
                 view = renderView();
             editNewGroup(view, {newName: '  ' + newGroupName + '  ', save: true});
             respondToSave(requests, view);
@@ -963,8 +987,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should save properly', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
 
             this.view.$('.action-add').click();
             this.view.$(SELECTORS.inputName).val('New Content Group');
@@ -978,8 +1001,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('does not hide saving message if failure', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
             this.view.$(SELECTORS.inputName).val('New Content Group');
 
             ViewHelpers.submitAndVerifyFormError(this.view, requests, notificationSpy);
@@ -1052,4 +1074,6 @@ define([
             );
         });
     });
+
+    }); // end describe('Group Configurations')
 });
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/modals/edit_xblock_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/modals/edit_xblock_spec.js
index 06b4413784cb..d3055e8d5ea8 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/modals/edit_xblock_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/modals/edit_xblock_spec.js
@@ -2,20 +2,26 @@
 
 import $ from 'jquery';
 import _ from 'underscore';
+import sinon from 'sinon';
 import AjaxHelpers from 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers';
 import EditHelpers from 'js/spec_helpers/edit_helpers';
 import EditXBlockModal from 'js/views/modals/edit_xblock';
 import XBlockInfo from 'js/models/xblock_info';
 
 describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
-    var model, modal, showModal;
+    var model, modal, showModal, requests, xhrFactory;
 
-    showModal = function(requests, mockHtml, options) {
+    showModal = function(mockHtml, options) {
         var $xblockElement = $('.xblock');
         return EditHelpers.showEditModal(requests, $xblockElement, model, mockHtml, options);
     };
 
     beforeEach(function() {
+        xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+        requests = [];
+        requests.currentIndex = 0;
+        requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+        xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         EditHelpers.installEditTemplates();
         appendSetFixtures('<div class="xblock" data-locator="mock-xblock"></div>');
         model = new XBlockInfo({
@@ -26,6 +32,7 @@ describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
     });
 
     afterEach(function() {
+        requests.restore();
         EditHelpers.cancelModalIfShowing();
     });
 
@@ -44,39 +51,34 @@ describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
         });
 
         it('can show itself', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXBlockEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXBlockEditorHtml);
             expect(EditHelpers.isShowingModal(modal)).toBeTruthy();
             EditHelpers.cancelModal(modal);
             expect(EditHelpers.isShowingModal(modal)).toBeFalsy();
         });
 
         it('does not show the "Save" button', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXBlockEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXBlockEditorHtml);
             expect(modal.$('.action-save')).not.toBeVisible();
             expect(modal.$('.action-cancel').text()).toBe('Close');
         });
 
         it('shows the correct title', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXBlockEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXBlockEditorHtml);
             expect(modal.$('.modal-window-title').text()).toBe('Editing: Component');
         });
 
         it('does not show any editor mode buttons', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXBlockEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXBlockEditorHtml);
             expect(modal.$('.editor-modes a').length).toBe(0);
         });
 
         it('hides itself and refreshes after save notification', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                refreshed = false,
+            var refreshed = false,
                 refresh = function() {
                     refreshed = true;
                 };
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXBlockEditorHtml, {refresh: refresh});
+            modal = showModal(mockXBlockEditorHtml, {refresh: refresh});
             modal.editorView.notifyRuntime('save', {state: 'start'});
             modal.editorView.notifyRuntime('save', {state: 'end'});
             expect(EditHelpers.isShowingModal(modal)).toBeFalsy();
@@ -85,12 +87,11 @@ describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
         });
 
         it('hides itself and does not refresh after cancel notification', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                refreshed = false,
+            var refreshed = false,
                 refresh = function() {
                     refreshed = true;
                 };
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXBlockEditorHtml, {refresh: refresh});
+            modal = showModal(mockXBlockEditorHtml, {refresh: refresh});
             modal.editorView.notifyRuntime('cancel');
             expect(EditHelpers.isShowingModal(modal)).toBeFalsy();
             expect(refreshed).toBeFalsy();
@@ -103,8 +104,7 @@ describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
             mockCustomButtonsHtml = readFixtures('templates/mock/mock-xblock-editor-with-custom-buttons.underscore');
 
             it('hides the modal\'s button bar', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-                modal = showModal(requests, mockCustomButtonsHtml);
+                modal = showModal(mockCustomButtonsHtml);
                 expect(modal.$('.modal-actions')).toBeHidden();
             });
         });
@@ -124,24 +124,21 @@ describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
         });
 
         it('can render itself', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXModuleEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXModuleEditorHtml);
             expect(EditHelpers.isShowingModal(modal)).toBeTruthy();
             EditHelpers.cancelModal(modal);
             expect(EditHelpers.isShowingModal(modal)).toBeFalsy();
         });
 
         it('shows the correct title', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXModuleEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXModuleEditorHtml);
             expect(modal.$('.modal-window-title span.modal-button-title').text()).toBe('Editing: Component');
         });
 
         it('shows the correct default buttons', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                editorButton,
+            var editorButton,
                 settingsButton;
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXModuleEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXModuleEditorHtml);
             expect(modal.$('.editor-modes a').length).toBe(2);
             editorButton = modal.$('.editor-button');
             settingsButton = modal.$('.settings-button');
@@ -152,10 +149,9 @@ describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
         });
 
         it('can switch tabs', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                editorButton,
+            var editorButton,
                 settingsButton;
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXModuleEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXModuleEditorHtml);
             expect(modal.$('.editor-modes a').length).toBe(2);
             editorButton = modal.$('.editor-button');
             settingsButton = modal.$('.settings-button');
@@ -172,14 +168,12 @@ describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
             mockCustomTabsHtml = readFixtures('templates/mock/mock-xmodule-editor-with-custom-tabs.underscore');
 
             it('hides the modal\'s header', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-                modal = showModal(requests, mockCustomTabsHtml);
+                modal = showModal(mockCustomTabsHtml);
                 expect(modal.$('.modal-header')).toBeHidden();
             });
 
             it('shows the correct title', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-                modal = showModal(requests, mockCustomTabsHtml);
+                modal = showModal(mockCustomTabsHtml);
                 expect(modal.$('.component-name').text()).toBe('Editing: Component');
             });
         });
@@ -199,16 +193,14 @@ describe('EditXBlockModal', function() {
         });
 
         it('can render itself', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXModuleEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXModuleEditorHtml);
             expect(EditHelpers.isShowingModal(modal)).toBeTruthy();
             EditHelpers.cancelModal(modal);
             expect(EditHelpers.isShowingModal(modal)).toBeFalsy();
         });
 
         it('does not show any mode buttons', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-            modal = showModal(requests, mockXModuleEditorHtml);
+            modal = showModal(mockXModuleEditorHtml);
             expect(modal.$('.editor-modes li').length).toBe(0);
         });
     });
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/modals/move_xblock_modal_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/modals/move_xblock_modal_spec.js
index 747fd7875b51..b78d15807f91 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/modals/move_xblock_modal_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/modals/move_xblock_modal_spec.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-define(['jquery', 'underscore', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
+define(['jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers',
     'js/views/modals/move_xblock_modal', 'js/models/xblock_info'],
-function($, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, MoveXBlockModal, XBlockInfo) {
+function($, _, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, MoveXBlockModal, XBlockInfo) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('MoveXBlockModal', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
         var modal,
             showModal,
             DISPLAY_NAME = 'HTML 101',
@@ -32,6 +33,11 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, MoveXBlockModal, XBloc
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             setFixtures('<div id="page-notification"></div><div id="reader-feedback"></div>');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplates([
                 'basic-modal',
@@ -41,6 +47,7 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, MoveXBlockModal, XBloc
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             modal.hide();
         });
 
@@ -56,8 +63,7 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, MoveXBlockModal, XBloc
         });
 
         it('sends request to fetch course outline', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                renderViewsSpy;
+            var renderViewsSpy;
             showModal();
             expect(modal.$el.find('.ui-loading.is-hidden')).not.toExist();
             renderViewsSpy = spyOn(modal, 'renderViews');
@@ -71,8 +77,7 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, MoveXBlockModal, XBloc
         });
 
         it('shows error notification when fetch course outline request fails', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy('Error');
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy('Error');
             showModal();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests);
             ViewHelpers.verifyNotificationShowing(notificationSpy, "Studio's having trouble saving your work");
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/move_xblock_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/move_xblock_spec.js
index e32f8a043fc2..a4173df856b8 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/move_xblock_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/move_xblock_spec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import $ from 'jquery';
 import _ from 'underscore';
+import sinon from 'sinon';
 import AjaxHelpers from 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers';
 import EditHelpers from 'js/spec_helpers/edit_helpers';
 import TemplateHelpers from 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers';
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
         verifyNotificationStatus, sendMoveXBlockRequest, moveXBlockWithSuccess, getMovedAlertNotification,
         verifyConfirmationFeedbackTitleText, verifyConfirmationFeedbackRedirectLinkText,
         verifyUndoConfirmationFeedbackTitleText, verifyConfirmationFeedbackUndoMoveActionText,
-        sourceParentXBlockInfo, mockContainerPage, createContainerPage, containerPage,
+        sourceParentXBlockInfo, mockContainerPage, createContainerPage, containerPage, requests, xhrFactory,
         sourceDisplayName = 'component_display_name_0',
         sourceLocator = 'component_ID_0',
         sourceParentLocator = 'unit_ID_0';
@@ -91,6 +92,11 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
     };
 
     beforeEach(function() {
+        xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+        requests = [];
+        requests.currentIndex = 0;
+        requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+        xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         setFixtures("<div id='page-alert'></div>");
         mockContainerPage = readFixtures('templates/mock/mock-container-page.underscore');
         TemplateHelpers.installTemplates([
@@ -115,6 +121,7 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
     });
 
     afterEach(function() {
+        requests.restore();
         modal.hide();
         courseOutline = null;
         containerPage.remove();
@@ -723,7 +730,6 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
         });
 
         it('move an xblock when move button is clicked', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             moveXBlockWithSuccess(requests);
         });
 
@@ -734,8 +740,7 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
         });
 
         it('undo move an xblock when undo move link is clicked', function() {
-            var sourceIndex = 0,
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var sourceIndex = 0;
             moveXBlockWithSuccess(requests);
             getMovedAlertNotification().find('.action-save').click();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {
@@ -749,8 +754,7 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
 
     describe('shows a notification', function() {
         it('mini operation message when moving an xblock', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
             // navigate to a target parent and click
             renderViews(courseOutline);
             _.each(_.range(3), function() {
@@ -761,8 +765,7 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
         });
 
         it('mini operation message when undo moving an xblock', function() {
-            var notificationSpy,
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var notificationSpy;
             moveXBlockWithSuccess(requests);
             notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy();
             getMovedAlertNotification().find('.action-save').click();
@@ -770,8 +773,7 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
         });
 
         it('error message when move request fails', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy('Error');
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy('Error');
             // select a target item and click
             renderViews(courseOutline);
             _.each(_.range(3), function() {
@@ -783,8 +785,7 @@ describe('MoveXBlock', function() {
         });
 
         it('error message when undo move request fails', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy('Error');
+            var notificationSpy = ViewHelpers.createNotificationSpy('Error');
             moveXBlockWithSuccess(requests);
             getMovedAlertNotification().find('.action-save').click();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests);
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/paged_container_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/paged_container_spec.js
index ad9c5891ab90..3add3711ba94 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/paged_container_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/paged_container_spec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-define(['jquery', 'underscore', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'URI', 'js/models/xblock_info',
+define(['jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'URI', 'js/models/xblock_info',
     'js/views/paged_container', 'js/views/paging_header',
     'common/js/components/views/paging_footer', 'js/views/xblock'],
-function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, PagingFooter, XBlockView) {
+function($, _, sinon, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, PagingFooter, XBlockView) {
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
     var htmlResponseTpl = _.template(''
             + '<div class="xblock-container-paging-parameters" '
                 + 'data-start="<%= start %>" '
@@ -73,16 +74,24 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
         var pagingContainer;
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             pagingContainer = new MockPagingView({
                 page_size: PAGE_SIZE,
                 page: jasmine.createSpyObj('page', ['updatePreviewButton', 'renderAddXBlockComponents'])
             });
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         describe('Container', function() {
             describe('rendering', function() {
                 it('should set show_previews', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     expect(pagingContainer.collection.showChildrenPreviews).toBe(true); // precondition check
 
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
@@ -97,7 +106,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
             describe('setPage', function() {
                 it('can set the current page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.collection.currentPage).toBe(0);
@@ -107,7 +115,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('should not change page after a server error', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
@@ -118,7 +125,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
             describe('nextPage', function() {
                 it('does not move forward after a server error', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.nextPage();
@@ -127,7 +133,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('can move to the next page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.nextPage();
@@ -136,7 +141,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('can not move forward from the final page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.nextPage();
@@ -146,7 +150,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
             describe('previousPage', function() {
                 it('can move back a page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.previousPage();
@@ -155,7 +158,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('can not move back from the first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.previousPage();
@@ -163,7 +165,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('does not move back after a server error', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.previousPage();
@@ -177,19 +178,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
             describe('Next page button', function() {
                 beforeEach(function() {
                     pagingContainer.render();
+                    respondWithMockPage(requests);
                 });
 
                 it('does not move forward if a server error occurs', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link').click();
-                    requests[1].respond(500);
+                    requests[2].respond(500);
                     expect(pagingContainer.collection.currentPage).toBe(0);
                 });
 
                 it('can move to the next page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link').click();
@@ -198,21 +198,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('should be enabled when there is at least one more page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link')).not.toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on the final page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on an empty page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
@@ -222,19 +219,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
             describe('Previous page button', function() {
                 beforeEach(function() {
                     pagingContainer.render();
+                    respondWithMockPage(requests);
                 });
 
                 it('does not move back if a server error occurs', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link').click();
-                    requests[1].respond(500);
+                    requests[2].respond(500);
                     expect(pagingContainer.collection.currentPage).toBe(1);
                 });
 
                 it('can go back a page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link').click();
@@ -243,21 +239,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on the first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be enabled on the second page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link')).not.toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled for an empty page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
@@ -266,8 +259,7 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
             describe('Page metadata section', function() {
                 it('shows the correct metadata for the current page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                        message;
+                    var message;
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     message = pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.meta').html().trim();
@@ -279,21 +271,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
             describe('Children count label', function() {
                 it('should show correct count on first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.count-current-shown')).toHaveHtml('1-3');
                 });
 
                 it('should show correct count on second page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.count-current-shown')).toHaveHtml('4-4');
                 });
 
                 it('should show correct count for an empty collection', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.count-current-shown')).toHaveHtml('0-0');
@@ -302,21 +291,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
             describe('Children total label', function() {
                 it('should show correct total on the first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.count-total')).toHaveText('4 total');
                 });
 
                 it('should show correct total on the second page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.count-total')).toHaveText('4 total');
                 });
 
                 it('should show zero total for an empty collection', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingHeader.$('.count-total')).toHaveText('0 total');
@@ -329,19 +315,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 beforeEach(function() {
                     // Render the page and header so that they can react to events
                     pagingContainer.render();
+                    respondWithMockPage(requests);
                 });
 
                 it('does not move forward if a server error occurs', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.next-page-link').click();
-                    requests[1].respond(500);
+                    requests[2].respond(500);
                     expect(pagingContainer.collection.currentPage).toBe(0);
                 });
 
                 it('can move to the next page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.next-page-link').click();
@@ -350,21 +335,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('should be enabled when there is at least one more page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.next-page-link')).not.toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on the final page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.next-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on an empty page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.next-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
@@ -375,19 +357,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 beforeEach(function() {
                     // Render the page and header so that they can react to events
                     pagingContainer.render();
+                    respondWithMockPage(requests);
                 });
 
                 it('does not move back if a server error occurs', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.previous-page-link').click();
-                    requests[1].respond(500);
+                    requests[2].respond(500);
                     expect(pagingContainer.collection.currentPage).toBe(1);
                 });
 
                 it('can go back a page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.previous-page-link').click();
@@ -396,21 +377,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on the first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.previous-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be enabled on the second page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.previous-page-link')).not.toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled for an empty page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.previous-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
@@ -419,21 +397,18 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
             describe('Current page label', function() {
                 it('should show 1 on the first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.current-page')).toHaveText('1');
                 });
 
                 it('should show 2 on the second page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.current-page')).toHaveText('2');
                 });
 
                 it('should show 1 for an empty collection', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.current-page')).toHaveText('1');
@@ -442,14 +417,12 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
             describe('Page total label', function() {
                 it('should show the correct value with more than one page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.total-pages')).toHaveText('2');
                 });
 
                 it('should show page 1 when there are no assets', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.total-pages')).toHaveText('1');
@@ -460,14 +433,12 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 var input;
 
                 it('should initially have a blank page input', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     expect(pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.page-number-input')).toHaveValue('');
                 });
 
                 it('should handle invalid page requests', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.page-number-input').val('abc');
@@ -477,7 +448,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('should switch pages via the input field', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.page-number-input').val('2');
@@ -488,7 +458,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('should handle AJAX failures when switching pages via the input field', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     pagingContainer.pagingFooter.$('.page-number-input').val('2');
@@ -507,7 +476,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
                 testSendsAjax = function(show_previews) {
                     it('should send ' + (!show_previews) + ' when showChildrenPreviews was ' + show_previews, function() {
-                        var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                         pagingContainer.collection.showChildrenPreviews = show_previews;
                         pagingContainer.togglePreviews();
                         AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'POST', defaultUrl, {showChildrenPreviews: !show_previews});
@@ -519,7 +487,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
                 it('should trigger render on success', function() {
                     spyOn(pagingContainer, 'render');
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
                     pagingContainer.togglePreviews();
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {showChildrenPreviews: true});
@@ -529,7 +496,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
 
                 it('should not trigger render on failure', function() {
                     spyOn(pagingContainer, 'render');
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
                     pagingContainer.togglePreviews();
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests);
@@ -538,7 +504,6 @@ function($, _, AjaxHelpers, URI, XBlockInfo, PagedContainer, PagingHeader, Pagin
                 });
 
                 it('should send force_render when new block causes page change', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingContainer.setPage(0);
                     respondWithMockPage(requests);
                     spyOn(pagingContainer, 'render');
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/container_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/container_spec.js
index f84efdca89b6..d1bf0cdd9ea9 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/container_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/container_spec.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import $ from 'jquery';
 import _ from 'underscore';
 import str from 'underscore.string';
+import sinon from 'sinon';
 import AjaxHelpers from 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers';
 import TemplateHelpers from 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers';
 import EditHelpers from 'js/spec_helpers/edit_helpers';
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ import 'jquery.simulate';
 function parameterized_suite(label, globalPageOptions) {
     describe(label + ' ContainerPage', function() {
         var getContainerPage, renderContainerPage, handleContainerPageRefresh, expectComponents,
-            respondWithHtml, model, containerPage, requests, initialDisplayName,
+            respondWithHtml, model, containerPage, requests, xhrFactory, initialDisplayName,
             mockContainerPage = readFixtures('templates/mock/mock-container-page.underscore'),
             mockContainerXBlockHtml = readFixtures(globalPageOptions.initial),
             mockXBlockHtml = readFixtures(globalPageOptions.addResponse),
@@ -34,6 +35,11 @@ function parameterized_suite(label, globalPageOptions) {
         beforeEach(function() {
             var newDisplayName = 'New Display Name';
 
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             EditHelpers.installEditTemplates();
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('xblock-string-field-editor');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('container-message');
@@ -64,6 +70,7 @@ function parameterized_suite(label, globalPageOptions) {
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             EditHelpers.uninstallMockXBlock();
             if (containerPage !== undefined) {
                 containerPage.remove();
@@ -89,7 +96,6 @@ function parameterized_suite(label, globalPageOptions) {
         };
 
         renderContainerPage = function(test, html, options, componentTemplates) {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
             containerPage = getContainerPage(options, componentTemplates);
             containerPage.render();
             respondWithHtml(html);
@@ -125,7 +131,6 @@ function parameterized_suite(label, globalPageOptions) {
             });
 
             it('shows a loading indicator', function() {
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 containerPage = getContainerPage();
                 containerPage.render();
                 expect(containerPage.$('.ui-loading')).not.toHaveClass('is-hidden');
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/container_subviews_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/container_subviews_spec.js
index e74bf82869d5..27175090f211 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/container_subviews_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/container_subviews_spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import $ from 'jquery';
 import _ from 'underscore';
 import str from 'underscore.string';
+import sinon from 'sinon';
 import AjaxHelpers from 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers';
 import TemplateHelpers from 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers';
 import EditHelpers from 'js/spec_helpers/edit_helpers';
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ import Course from 'js/models/course';
 var VisibilityState = XBlockUtils.VisibilityState;
 
 describe('Container Subviews', function() {
-    var model, containerPage, requests, createContainerPage, renderContainerPage,
+    var model, containerPage, requests, xhrFactory, createContainerPage, renderContainerPage,
         respondWithHtml, fetch,
         disabledCss = 'is-disabled',
         defaultXBlockInfo, createXBlockInfo,
@@ -22,6 +23,11 @@ describe('Container Subviews', function() {
         mockContainerXBlockHtml = readFixtures('templates/mock/mock-empty-container-xblock.underscore');
 
     beforeEach(function() {
+        xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+        requests = [];
+        requests.currentIndex = 0;
+        requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+        xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         window.course = new Course({
             id: '5',
             name: 'Course Name',
@@ -37,10 +43,10 @@ describe('Container Subviews', function() {
         TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('unit-outline');
         TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('container-message');
         appendSetFixtures(mockContainerPage);
-        requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
     });
 
     afterEach(function() {
+        requests.restore();
         delete window.course;
         if (containerPage !== undefined) {
             containerPage.remove();
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_outline_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_outline_spec.js
index ba975bf7b054..206bb3909ec1 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_outline_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_outline_spec.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import $ from 'jquery';
+import sinon from 'sinon';
 import AjaxHelpers from 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers';
 import ViewUtils from 'common/js/components/utils/view_utils';
 import CourseOutlinePage from 'js/views/pages/course_outline';
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ import TemplateHelpers from 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers';
 import Course from 'js/models/course';
 
 describe('CourseOutlinePage', function() {
-    var createCourseOutlinePage, displayNameInput, model, outlinePage, requests, getItemsOfType, getItemHeaders,
+    var createCourseOutlinePage, displayNameInput, model, outlinePage, requests, xhrFactory, getItemsOfType, getItemHeaders,
         verifyItemsExpanded, expandItemsAndVerifyState, collapseItemsAndVerifyState, selectBasicSettings,
         selectVisibilitySettings, selectDiscussionSettings, selectAdvancedSettings, createMockCourseJSON, createMockSectionJSON,
         createMockSubsectionJSON, verifyTypePublishable, mockCourseJSON, mockEmptyCourseJSON, setSelfPaced, setSelfPacedCustomPLS,
@@ -223,7 +224,6 @@ describe('CourseOutlinePage', function() {
     };
 
     createCourseOutlinePage = function(test, courseJSON, createOnly) {
-        requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
         model = new XBlockOutlineInfo(courseJSON, {parse: true});
         outlinePage = new CourseOutlinePage({
             model: model,
@@ -305,6 +305,11 @@ describe('CourseOutlinePage', function() {
     };
 
     beforeEach(function() {
+        xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+        requests = [];
+        requests.currentIndex = 0;
+        requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+        xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         window.course = new Course({
             id: '5',
             name: 'Course Name',
@@ -365,6 +370,7 @@ describe('CourseOutlinePage', function() {
     });
 
     afterEach(function() {
+        requests.restore();
         EditHelpers.cancelModalIfShowing();
         EditHelpers.removeMockAnalytics();
         // Clean up after the $.datepicker
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_rerun_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_rerun_spec.js
index 806fc3e2e329..d15c79a7b638 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_rerun_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_rerun_spec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-define(['jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers',
+define(['jquery', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers',
     'js/views/course_rerun', 'js/views/utils/create_course_utils', 'common/js/components/utils/view_utils',
     'jquery.simulate'],
-function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, CourseRerunUtils, CreateCourseUtilsFactory, ViewUtils) {
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, CourseRerunUtils, CreateCourseUtilsFactory, ViewUtils) {
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
     describe('Create course rerun page', function() {
         var selectors = {
                 org: '.rerun-course-org',
@@ -37,6 +38,11 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, CourseRerunUtils, CreateCourseUtilsFactory
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             ViewHelpers.installMockAnalytics();
             window.source_course_key = 'test_course_key';
             appendSetFixtures(mockCreateCourseRerunHTML);
@@ -44,6 +50,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, CourseRerunUtils, CreateCourseUtilsFactory
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             ViewHelpers.removeMockAnalytics();
             delete window.source_course_key;
         });
@@ -157,7 +164,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, CourseRerunUtils, CreateCourseUtilsFactory
         });
 
         it('saves course reruns', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             var redirectSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'redirect');
             fillInFields('DemoX', 'DM101', '2014', 'Demo course');
             $(selectors.save).click();
@@ -178,7 +184,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, CourseRerunUtils, CreateCourseUtilsFactory
         });
 
         it('displays an error when saving fails', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             fillInFields('DemoX', 'DM101', '2014', 'Demo course');
             $(selectors.save).click();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {
@@ -191,7 +196,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, CourseRerunUtils, CreateCourseUtilsFactory
         });
 
         it('does not save if there are validation errors', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             fillInFields('DemoX', 'DM101', '', 'Demo course');
             $(selectors.save).click();
             AjaxHelpers.expectNoRequests(requests);
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/index_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/index_spec.js
index 2c91d803dfea..2b76a169f3a4 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/index_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/index_spec.js
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 define(['jquery',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers', 'js/index',
     'common/js/components/utils/view_utils'],
-function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, IndexUtils, ViewUtils) {
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, IndexUtils, ViewUtils) {
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
     describe('Course listing page', function() {
         var mockIndexPageHTML = readFixtures('mock/mock-index-page.underscore');
 
@@ -20,18 +22,23 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, IndexUtils, ViewUtils) {
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             ViewHelpers.installMockAnalytics();
             appendSetFixtures(mockIndexPageHTML);
             IndexUtils.onReady();
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             ViewHelpers.removeMockAnalytics();
             delete window.source_course_key;
         });
 
         it('can dismiss notifications', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             var reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
             $('.dismiss-button').click();
             AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'DELETE', 'dummy_dismiss_url');
@@ -40,7 +47,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, IndexUtils, ViewUtils) {
         });
 
         it('saves new courses', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             var redirectSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'redirect');
             $('.new-course-button').click();
             AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'GET', '/organizations');
@@ -70,7 +76,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, IndexUtils, ViewUtils) {
         });
 
         it('displays an error when saving fails', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.new-course-button').click();
             AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'GET', '/organizations');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, ['DemoX', 'DemoX2', 'DemoX3']);
@@ -87,7 +92,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, IndexUtils, ViewUtils) {
         });
 
         it('saves new libraries', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             var redirectSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'redirect');
             $('.new-library-button').click();
             fillInLibraryFields('DemoX', 'DM101', 'Demo library');
@@ -104,7 +108,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, IndexUtils, ViewUtils) {
         });
 
         it('displays an error when a required field is blank', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.new-library-button').click();
             var values = ['DemoX', 'DM101', 'Demo library'];
             // Try making each of these three values empty one at a time and ensure the form won't submit:
@@ -131,7 +134,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, IndexUtils, ViewUtils) {
         });
 
         it('displays an error when saving a library fails', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.new-library-button').click();
             fillInLibraryFields('DemoX', 'DM101', 'Demo library');
             $('.new-library-save').click();
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/library_users_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/library_users_spec.js
index 4d8f8463eb77..08dd6065eb9c 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/library_users_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/library_users_spec.js
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers',
+    'jquery', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers',
     'js/factories/manage_users_lib', 'common/js/components/utils/view_utils'
 ],
-function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
     'use strict';
 
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
+
     describe('Library Instructor Access Page', function() {
         var changeRoleUrl = 'dummy_change_role_url/@@EMAIL@@';
         var team_member_fixture = readFixtures('team-member.underscore');
@@ -24,6 +26,11 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
             var mockHTML = readFixtures('mock/mock-manage-users-lib.underscore');
 
             beforeEach(function(done) {
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
                 ViewHelpers.installMockAnalytics();
                 setFixtures(mockHTML);
                 appendSetFixtures($('<script>', {id: 'team-member-tpl', type: 'text/template'}).text(team_member_fixture));
@@ -51,12 +58,12 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
             });
 
             afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
                 ViewHelpers.removeMockAnalytics();
             });
 
             it('can give a user permission to use the library', function() {
                 var email = 'other@example.com';
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
                 $('.create-user-button').click();
                 expect($('.wrapper-create-user')).toHaveClass('is-shown');
@@ -69,7 +76,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
 
             it('can promote user', function() {
                 var email = 'staff@example.com';
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
                 setRole('staff@example.com', 'staff');
                 AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'POST', getUrl(email), {role: 'staff'});
@@ -84,7 +90,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
             });
 
             it('displays an error when the required field is blank', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 $('.create-user-button').click();
                 $('.user-email-input').val('');
                 var errorPromptSelector = '.wrapper-prompt.is-shown .prompt.error';
@@ -96,7 +101,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
             });
 
             it('displays an error when the user has already been added', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var promptSpy = ViewHelpers.createPromptSpy();
                 $('.create-user-button').click();
                 $('.user-email-input').val('honor@example.com');
@@ -106,7 +110,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
             });
 
             it("can remove a user's permission to access the library", function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var promptSpy = ViewHelpers.createPromptSpy();
                 var reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
                 var email = 'honor@example.com';
@@ -124,6 +127,11 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
             var mockHTML = readFixtures('mock/mock-manage-users-lib-ro.underscore');
 
             beforeEach(function() {
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
                 ViewHelpers.installMockAnalytics();
                 setFixtures(mockHTML);
                 appendSetFixtures($('<script>', {id: 'team-member-tpl', type: 'text/template'}).text(team_member_fixture));
@@ -147,6 +155,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, ViewHelpers, ManageUsersFactory, ViewUtils) {
             });
 
             afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
                 ViewHelpers.removeMockAnalytics();
             });
 
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/paging_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/paging_spec.js
index f01edf9fed3a..316356aa8681 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/paging_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/paging_spec.js
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 define([
     'jquery',
     'URI',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/pagination/paging-collection',
     'js/views/paging',
     'js/views/paging_header'
 ],
-function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
+function($, URI, sinon, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
     'use strict';
 
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
+
     var createPageableItem = function(index) {
         var id = 'item_' + index;
         return {
@@ -78,15 +81,23 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
             });
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             var collection = new TestPagingCollection();
             collection.url = '/dummy/';
             pagingView = new MockPagingView({collection: collection});
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         describe('PagingView', function() {
             describe('setPage', function() {
                 it('can set the current page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingView.collection.getPageNumber()).toBe(1);
@@ -96,7 +107,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('should not change page after a server error', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
@@ -109,7 +119,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
 
             describe('nextPage', function() {
                 it('does not move forward after a server error', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingView.nextPage();
@@ -118,7 +127,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('can move to the next page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingView.nextPage();
@@ -129,7 +137,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('can not move forward from the final page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingView.nextPage();
@@ -139,7 +146,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
 
             describe('previousPage', function() {
                 it('can move back a page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingView.previousPage();
@@ -148,7 +154,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('can not move back from the first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingView.previousPage();
@@ -156,7 +161,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('does not move back after a server error', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingView.previousPage();
@@ -167,7 +171,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
 
             describe('toggleSortOrder', function() {
                 it('can toggle direction of the current sort', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     expect(pagingView.collection.sortDirection).toBe('desc');
                     pagingView.toggleSortOrder('date-col');
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
@@ -178,7 +181,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('sets the correct default sort direction for a column', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.toggleSortOrder('name-col');
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingView.sortDisplayName()).toBe('Name');
@@ -222,7 +224,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('does not move forward if a server error occurs', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link').click();
@@ -232,7 +233,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('can move to the next page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link').click();
@@ -241,21 +241,18 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('should be enabled when there is at least one more page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link')).not.toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on the final page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on an empty page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.next-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
@@ -270,7 +267,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('does not move back if a server error occurs', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link').click();
@@ -279,7 +275,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('can go back a page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link').click();
@@ -288,21 +283,18 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled on the first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be enabled on the second page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link')).not.toHaveClass('is-disabled');
                 });
 
                 it('should be disabled for an empty page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.previous-page-link')).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
@@ -311,8 +303,7 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
 
             describe('Page metadata section', function() {
                 it('shows the correct metadata for the current page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                        message;
+                    var message;
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     message = pagingHeader.$('.meta').html().trim();
@@ -322,8 +313,7 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
                 });
 
                 it('shows the correct metadata when sorted ascending', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                        message;
+                    var message;
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     pagingView.toggleSortOrder('name-col');
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
@@ -336,21 +326,18 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
 
             describe('Item count label', function() {
                 it('should show correct count on first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.count-current-shown')).toHaveHtml('1-3');
                 });
 
                 it('should show correct count on second page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.count-current-shown')).toHaveHtml('4-4');
                 });
 
                 it('should show correct count for an empty collection', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.count-current-shown')).toHaveHtml('0-0');
@@ -359,21 +346,18 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
 
             describe('Item total label', function() {
                 it('should show correct total on the first page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.count-total')).toHaveText('4 total');
                 });
 
                 it('should show correct total on the second page', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(2);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.count-total')).toHaveText('4 total');
                 });
 
                 it('should show zero total for an empty collection', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockEmptyPage);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.count-total')).toHaveText('0 total');
@@ -382,14 +366,12 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, PagingView, PagingHeader) {
 
             describe('Sort order label', function() {
                 it('should show correct initial sort order', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.setPage(1);
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.sort-order')).toHaveText('Date');
                 });
 
                 it('should show updated sort order', function() {
-                    var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     pagingView.toggleSortOrder('name-col');
                     respondWithMockItems(requests);
                     expect(pagingHeader.$('.sort-order')).toHaveText('Name');
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/settings/main_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/settings/main_spec.js
index 52ebad8707b8..43f95d584f05 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/settings/main_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/settings/main_spec.js
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'js/models/settings/course_details', 'js/views/settings/main',
+    'jquery', 'sinon', 'js/models/settings/course_details', 'js/views/settings/main',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers'
-], function($, CourseDetailsModel, MainView, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers) {
+], function($, sinon, CourseDetailsModel, MainView, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers) {
     'use strict';
 
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
+
     var SELECTORS = {
         entrance_exam_min_score: '#entrance-exam-minimum-score-pct',
         entrance_exam_enabled_field: '#entrance-exam-enabled',
@@ -60,6 +62,11 @@ define([
             instructorInfoTpl = readFixtures('course-instructor-details.underscore');
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplates(['course-settings-learning-fields', 'course-instructor-details'], true);
             appendSetFixtures(mockSettingsPage);
             appendSetFixtures(
@@ -84,6 +91,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             // Clean up after the $.datepicker
             $('#start_date').datepicker('destroy');
             $('#due_date').datepicker('destroy');
@@ -91,8 +99,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('Changing the time field do not affect other time fields', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     // Expect to see changes just in `start_date` field.
                     start_date: '2014-10-05T22:00:00.000Z'
                 });
@@ -110,8 +117,7 @@ define([
 
         it('Selecting a course in pre-requisite drop down should save it as part of course details', function() {
             var pre_requisite_courses = ['test/CSS101/2012_T1'];
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     pre_requisite_courses: pre_requisite_courses
                 });
             this.view.$el.find('#pre-requisite-course')
@@ -168,8 +174,7 @@ define([
                 entrance_exam_min_score = this.view.$(SELECTORS.entrance_exam_min_score),
                 entrance_exam_enabled_field = this.view.$(SELECTORS.entrance_exam_enabled_field);
 
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     entrance_exam_enabled: entrance_exam_enabled,
                     entrance_exam_minimum_score_pct: entrance_exam_minimum_score_pct
                 });
@@ -190,7 +195,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should save language as part of course details', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                 language: 'en'
             });
@@ -203,7 +207,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should not error if about_page_editable is False', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             // if about_page_editable is false, there is no section.course_details
             $('.course_details').remove();
             expect(this.model.get('language')).toEqual('');
@@ -212,8 +215,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should save title', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     title: 'course title'
                 });
 
@@ -228,8 +230,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should save subtitle', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     subtitle: 'course subtitle'
                 });
 
@@ -244,8 +245,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should save duration', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     duration: '8 weeks'
                 });
 
@@ -260,8 +260,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should save description', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     description: 'course description'
                 });
 
@@ -295,8 +294,7 @@ define([
 
         it('can save learning information', function() {
             expect(this.model.get('learning_info').length).toEqual(1);
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     learning_info: ['testing info']
                 });
 
@@ -327,8 +325,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can save instructor information', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
+            var expectedJson = $.extend(true, {}, modelData, {
                     instructor_info: {
                         instructors:
                         [{
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/unit_outline_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/unit_outline_spec.js
index c8df5a0b566f..99eb7d5da399 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/unit_outline_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/unit_outline_spec.js
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
-define(['jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
+define(['jquery', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers', 'common/js/components/utils/view_utils', 'js/models/course',
     'js/views/unit_outline', 'js/models/xblock_info'],
-function($, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, ViewUtils,
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, ViewUtils,
     Course, UnitOutlineView, XBlockInfo) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('UnitOutlineView', function() {
+        // Preload before beforeEach installs fake XHR, so readFixtures uses real XHR
+        // and the result is cached. See group_configuration_spec.js for full explanation.
+        readFixtures('unit-outline.underscore');
+
         var createUnitOutlineView, createMockXBlockInfo,
-            requests, model, unitOutlineView;
+            requests, xhrFactory, model, unitOutlineView;
 
         createUnitOutlineView = function(test, unitJSON, createOnly) {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
             model = new XBlockInfo(unitJSON, {parse: true});
             unitOutlineView = new UnitOutlineView({
                 model: model,
@@ -74,6 +77,11 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, ViewUtils,
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             window.course = new Course({
                 id: '5',
                 name: 'Course Name',
@@ -89,6 +97,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ViewHelpers, ViewUtils,
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
             delete window.course;
             ViewHelpers.removeMockAnalytics();
         });
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/upload_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/upload_spec.js
index 8e0a1af83a91..51f193d9e7b5 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/upload_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/upload_spec.js
@@ -117,17 +117,23 @@ define(["underscore", "sinon", "js/models/uploads", "js/views/uploads",
             });
 
             describe("Uploads", function() {
+                var requests, xhrFactory;
                 beforeEach(function() {
+                    xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                    requests = [];
+                    requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                    requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                    xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
                     this.clock = sinon.useFakeTimers();
                 });
 
                 afterEach(function() {
+                    requests.restore();
                     modal_helpers.cancelModalIfShowing();
                     this.clock.restore();
                 });
 
                 it("can upload correctly", function() {
-                    const requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     const view = createTestView(this);
                     view.render();
                     view.upload();
@@ -143,7 +149,6 @@ define(["underscore", "sinon", "js/models/uploads", "js/views/uploads",
                 });
 
                 it("can handle upload errors", function() {
-                    const requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     const view = createTestView(this);
                     view.render();
                     view.upload();
@@ -153,7 +158,6 @@ define(["underscore", "sinon", "js/models/uploads", "js/views/uploads",
                 });
 
                 it("removes itself after two seconds on successful upload", function() {
-                    const requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                     const view = createTestView(this);
                     view.render();
                     view.upload();
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_editor_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_editor_spec.js
index 5791572ddde0..4ae4d5e8ea7f 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_editor_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_editor_spec.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import $ from 'jquery';
 import _ from 'underscore';
+import sinon from 'sinon';
 import AjaxHelpers from 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers';
 import EditHelpers from 'js/spec_helpers/edit_helpers';
 import XBlockEditorView from 'js/views/xblock_editor';
 import XBlockInfo from 'js/models/xblock_info';
 
 describe('XBlockEditorView', function() {
-    var model, editor, testDisplayName, mockSaveResponse;
+    var model, editor, testDisplayName, mockSaveResponse, requests, xhrFactory;
 
     testDisplayName = 'Test Display Name';
     mockSaveResponse = {
@@ -17,6 +18,11 @@ describe('XBlockEditorView', function() {
     };
 
     beforeEach(function() {
+        xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+        requests = [];
+        requests.currentIndex = 0;
+        requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+        xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         EditHelpers.installEditTemplates();
         model = new XBlockInfo({
             id: 'testCourse/branch/draft/block/verticalFFF',
@@ -28,6 +34,10 @@ describe('XBlockEditorView', function() {
         });
     });
 
+    afterEach(function() {
+        requests.restore();
+    });
+
     describe('Editing an xblock', function() {
         var mockXBlockEditorHtml;
 
@@ -42,7 +52,6 @@ describe('XBlockEditorView', function() {
         mockXBlockEditorHtml = readFixtures('templates/mock/mock-xblock-editor.underscore');
 
         it('can render itself', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             editor.render();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {
                 html: mockXBlockEditorHtml,
@@ -68,7 +77,6 @@ describe('XBlockEditorView', function() {
         });
 
         it('can render itself', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             editor.render();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {
                 html: mockXModuleEditorHtml,
@@ -80,8 +88,7 @@ describe('XBlockEditorView', function() {
         });
 
         it('saves any custom metadata', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                request, response;
+            var request, response;
             editor.render();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {
                 html: mockXModuleEditorHtml,
@@ -97,8 +104,7 @@ describe('XBlockEditorView', function() {
         });
 
         it('can render a module with only settings', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                // eslint-disable-next-line no-shadow
+            var // eslint-disable-next-line no-shadow
                 mockXModuleEditorHtml;
             mockXModuleEditorHtml = readFixtures('templates/mock/mock-xmodule-settings-only-editor.underscore');
 
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_spec.js
index 52060cd470c6..41787abbee95 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_spec.js
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
-define(['jquery', 'URI', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/components/utils/view_utils',
+define(['jquery', 'URI', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/components/utils/view_utils',
     'js/views/xblock', 'js/models/xblock_info', 'xmodule', 'cms/js/main', 'xblock/cms.runtime.v1'],
-function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, XBlockView, XBlockInfo) {
+function($, URI, sinon, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, XBlockView, XBlockInfo) {
     'use strict';
 
+    var requests, xhrFactory;
     describe('XBlockView', function() {
         var model, xblockView, mockXBlockHtml;
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             model = new XBlockInfo({
                 id: 'testCourse/branch/draft/block/verticalFFF',
                 display_name: 'Test Unit',
@@ -17,10 +23,13 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, XBlockView, XBlockInfo) {
             });
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         mockXBlockHtml = readFixtures('mock/mock-xblock.underscore');
 
         it('can render a nested xblock', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             xblockView.render();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {
                 html: mockXBlockHtml,
@@ -53,13 +62,11 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, XBlockView, XBlockInfo) {
             };
 
             it('can render an xblock with no CSS or JavaScript', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 postXBlockRequest(requests, []);
             });
 
             it('can render an xblock with required CSS', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    mockCssText = '// Just a comment',
+            var mockCssText = '// Just a comment',
                     mockCssUrl = 'mock.css',
                     headHtml;
                 postXBlockRequest(requests, [
@@ -72,7 +79,6 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, XBlockView, XBlockInfo) {
             });
 
             it('can render an xblock with required JavaScript', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 postXBlockRequest(requests, [
                     ['xblock_spec_hash3', {
                         mimetype: 'application/javascript', kind: 'text', data: 'window.test = 100;'
@@ -82,8 +88,7 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, XBlockView, XBlockInfo) {
             });
 
             it('can render an xblock with required HTML', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    mockHeadTag = '<title>Test Title</title>';
+            var mockHeadTag = '<title>Test Title</title>';
                 postXBlockRequest(requests, [
                     ['xblock_spec_hash4', {mimetype: 'text/html', placement: 'head', data: mockHeadTag}]
                 ]);
@@ -91,8 +96,7 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, XBlockView, XBlockInfo) {
             });
 
             it('aborts rendering when a dependent script fails to load', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    missingJavaScriptUrl = 'no_such_file.js',
+            var missingJavaScriptUrl = 'no_such_file.js',
                     promise;
                 spyOn(ViewUtils, 'loadJavaScript').and.returnValue($.Deferred().reject().promise());
                 promise = postXBlockRequest(requests, [
@@ -106,7 +110,7 @@ function($, URI, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, XBlockView, XBlockInfo) {
             it('Triggers an event to the runtime when a notification-action-button is clicked', function() {
                 var notifySpy = spyOn(xblockView, 'notifyRuntime').and.callThrough();
 
-                postXBlockRequest(AjaxHelpers.requests(this), []);
+                postXBlockRequest(requests, []);
                 xblockView.$el.find('.notification-action-button').click();
                 expect(notifySpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('add-missing-groups', model.get('id'));
             });
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_string_field_editor_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_string_field_editor_spec.js
index 9121b0e3342c..ce7b0ee5291b 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_string_field_editor_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/xblock_string_field_editor_spec.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import $ from 'jquery';
+import sinon from 'sinon';
 import AjaxHelpers from 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers';
 import TemplateHelpers from 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers';
 import EditHelpers from 'js/spec_helpers/edit_helpers';
@@ -6,7 +7,7 @@ import XBlockInfo from 'js/models/xblock_info';
 import XBlockStringFieldEditor from 'js/views/xblock_string_field_editor';
 
 describe('XBlockStringFieldEditorView', function() {
-    var initialDisplayName, updatedDisplayName, getXBlockInfo, getFieldEditorView;
+    var initialDisplayName, updatedDisplayName, getXBlockInfo, getFieldEditorView, requests, xhrFactory;
 
     getXBlockInfo = function(displayName) {
         return new XBlockInfo(
@@ -29,6 +30,11 @@ describe('XBlockStringFieldEditorView', function() {
     };
 
     beforeEach(function() {
+        xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+        requests = [];
+        requests.currentIndex = 0;
+        requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+        xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         initialDisplayName = 'Default Display Name';
         updatedDisplayName = 'Updated Display Name';
         TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('xblock-string-field-editor');
@@ -42,6 +48,10 @@ describe('XBlockStringFieldEditorView', function() {
         );
     });
 
+    afterEach(function() {
+        requests.restore();
+    });
+
     describe('Editing', function() {
         var expectPostedNewDisplayName, expectEditCanceled;
 
@@ -54,8 +64,7 @@ describe('XBlockStringFieldEditorView', function() {
         };
 
         expectEditCanceled = function(test, fieldEditorView, options) {
-            var requests, initialRequests, displayNameInput;
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
+            var displayNameInput;
             displayNameInput = EditHelpers.inlineEdit(fieldEditorView.$el, options.newTitle);
             if (options.pressEscape) {
                 displayNameInput.simulate('keydown', {keyCode: $.simulate.keyCode.ESCAPE});
@@ -72,8 +81,7 @@ describe('XBlockStringFieldEditorView', function() {
         };
 
         it('can inline edit the display name', function() {
-            var requests, fieldEditorView;
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var fieldEditorView;
             fieldEditorView = getFieldEditorView().render();
             EditHelpers.inlineEdit(fieldEditorView.$el, updatedDisplayName);
             fieldEditorView.$('button[name=submit]').click();
@@ -86,8 +94,7 @@ describe('XBlockStringFieldEditorView', function() {
         });
 
         it('does not change the title when a display name update fails', function() {
-            var requests, fieldEditorView, initialRequests;
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var fieldEditorView;
             fieldEditorView = getFieldEditorView().render();
             EditHelpers.inlineEdit(fieldEditorView.$el, updatedDisplayName);
             fieldEditorView.$('button[name=submit]').click();
@@ -99,8 +106,7 @@ describe('XBlockStringFieldEditorView', function() {
         });
 
         it('trims whitespace from the display name', function() {
-            var requests, fieldEditorView;
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var fieldEditorView;
             fieldEditorView = getFieldEditorView().render();
             updatedDisplayName += ' ';
             EditHelpers.inlineEdit(fieldEditorView.$el, updatedDisplayName);
diff --git a/common/static/common/js/spec/components/paginated_view_spec.js b/common/static/common/js/spec/components/paginated_view_spec.js
index 21797a854a3c..b0d059a2256b 100644
--- a/common/static/common/js/spec/components/paginated_view_spec.js
+++ b/common/static/common/js/spec/components/paginated_view_spec.js
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@ define([
     'jquery',
     'backbone',
     'underscore',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/pagination/paging-collection',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/components/views/paginated_view'
-], function($, Backbone, _, PagingCollection, AjaxHelpers, PaginatedView) {
+], function($, Backbone, _, sinon, PagingCollection, AjaxHelpers, PaginatedView) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('PaginatedView', function() {
@@ -23,6 +24,8 @@ define([
             TestPaginatedView = PaginatedView.extend({type: 'test', itemViewClass: TestItemView}),
             testCollection,
             testView,
+            requests,
+            xhrFactory,
             initialItems,
             nextPageButtonCss = '.next-page-link',
             previousPageButtonCss = '.previous-page-link',
@@ -35,6 +38,11 @@ define([
             };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             setFixtures('<div class="test-container"></div>');
             initialItems = generateItems(5);
             var TestPagingCollection = PagingCollection.extend({
@@ -54,6 +62,10 @@ define([
             testView = new TestPaginatedView({el: '.test-container', collection: testCollection}).render();
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         /**
          * Verify that the view's header reflects the page we're currently viewing.
          * @param matchString the header we expect to see
@@ -112,8 +124,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can change to the next page', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                newItems = generateItems(1);
+            var newItems = generateItems(1);
             expectHeader('Showing 1-5 out of 6 total');
             expectItems(initialItems);
             expectFooter({currentPage: 1, totalPages: 2, isHidden: false});
@@ -131,8 +142,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can change to the previous page', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                previousPageItems;
+            var previousPageItems;
             initialItems = generateItems(1);
             testCollection.set(
                 {
@@ -160,7 +170,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('sets focus for screen readers', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             spyOn($.fn, 'focus');
             testView.$(nextPageButtonCss).click();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {
@@ -173,8 +182,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('does not change on server error', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                expectInitialState = function() {
+            var expectInitialState = function() {
                     expectHeader('Showing 1-5 out of 6 total');
                     expectItems(initialItems);
                     expectFooter({currentPage: 1, totalPages: 2, isHidden: false});
diff --git a/common/static/common/js/spec/components/paging_footer_spec.js b/common/static/common/js/spec/components/paging_footer_spec.js
index 39bd93b909b8..887d6240662c 100644
--- a/common/static/common/js/spec/components/paging_footer_spec.js
+++ b/common/static/common/js/spec/components/paging_footer_spec.js
@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@ define([
     'jquery',
     'URI',
     'underscore',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/pagination/paging-collection',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/components/views/paging_footer'
-], function($, URI, _, PagingCollection, AjaxHelpers, PagingFooter) {
+], function($, URI, _, sinon, PagingCollection, AjaxHelpers, PagingFooter) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('PagingFooter', function() {
         var pagingFooter,
+            requests,
+            xhrFactory,
             mockPage = function(currentPage, numPages, collectionLength) {
                 if (_.isUndefined(collectionLength)) {
                     collectionLength = 1;
@@ -29,6 +32,11 @@ define([
             pageNumberInputCss = '.page-number-input';
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             setFixtures('<div class="paging-footer"></div>');
             var collection = new PagingCollection(mockPage(1, 2), {parse: true});
             collection.url = '/test/url/';
@@ -39,6 +47,10 @@ define([
             }).render();
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         describe('when hideWhenOnePage is true', function() {
             beforeEach(function() {
                 pagingFooter.hideWhenOnePage = true;
@@ -69,14 +81,12 @@ define([
 
         describe('Next page button', function() {
             it('does not move forward if a server error occurs', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(nextPageCss).click();
                 requests[0].respond(500);
                 expect(pagingFooter.$(currentPageCss)).toHaveText('1');
             });
 
             it('can move to the next page', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(nextPageCss).click();
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockPage(2, 2));
                 expect(pagingFooter.collection.getPageNumber()).toBe(2);
@@ -88,7 +98,6 @@ define([
             });
 
             it('should be disabled on the final page', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(nextPageCss).click();
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockPage(2, 2));
                 expect(pagingFooter.$(nextPageCss)).toHaveClass('is-disabled');
@@ -97,7 +106,6 @@ define([
 
         describe('Previous page button', function() {
             it('does not move back if a server error occurs', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.collection.reset(mockPage(2, 2), {parse: true});
                 pagingFooter.$(previousPageCss).click();
                 requests[0].respond(500);
@@ -105,7 +113,6 @@ define([
             });
 
             it('can go back a page', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(nextPageCss).click();
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockPage(2, 2));
                 pagingFooter.$(previousPageCss).click();
@@ -118,7 +125,6 @@ define([
             });
 
             it('should be enabled on the second page', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(nextPageCss).click();
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockPage(2, 2));
                 expect(pagingFooter.$(previousPageCss)).not.toHaveClass('is-disabled');
@@ -131,7 +137,6 @@ define([
             });
 
             it('should show 2 on the second page', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(nextPageCss).click();
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockPage(2, 2));
                 expect(pagingFooter.$(currentPageCss)).toHaveText('2');
@@ -154,7 +159,6 @@ define([
             });
 
             it('should handle invalid page requests', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(pageNumberInputCss).val('abc');
                 pagingFooter.$(pageNumberInputCss).trigger('change');
                 expect(pagingFooter.$(currentPageCss)).toHaveText('1');
@@ -162,7 +166,6 @@ define([
             });
 
             it('should switch pages via the input field', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(pageNumberInputCss).val('2');
                 pagingFooter.$(pageNumberInputCss).trigger('change');
                 AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, mockPage(2, 2));
@@ -171,7 +174,6 @@ define([
             });
 
             it('should handle AJAX failures when switching pages via the input field', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 pagingFooter.$(pageNumberInputCss).val('2');
                 pagingFooter.$(pageNumberInputCss).trigger('change');
                 requests[0].respond(500);
diff --git a/common/static/common/js/spec/components/search_field_spec.js b/common/static/common/js/spec/components/search_field_spec.js
index dbd4fa1bd29b..b82106822a87 100644
--- a/common/static/common/js/spec/components/search_field_spec.js
+++ b/common/static/common/js/spec/components/search_field_spec.js
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 define([
     'underscore',
     'URI',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/pagination/paging-collection',
     'common/js/components/views/search_field'
-], function(_, URI, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, SearchFieldView) {
+], function(_, URI, sinon, AjaxHelpers, PagingCollection, SearchFieldView) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('SearchFieldView', function() {
         var searchFieldView,
+            requests,
+            xhrFactory,
             mockUrl = '/api/mock_collection';
 
         var newCollection = function(size, perPage) {
@@ -55,9 +58,18 @@ define([
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             setFixtures('<section class="test-search"></section>');
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('correctly displays itself', function() {
             searchFieldView = createSearchFieldView().render();
             expect(searchFieldView.$('.search-field').val(), '');
@@ -72,7 +84,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('refreshes the collection when performing a search', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             searchFieldView = createSearchFieldView().render();
             searchFieldView.$('.search-field').val('foo');
             searchFieldView.$('.action-search').click();
@@ -92,7 +103,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can clear the search', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             searchFieldView = createSearchFieldView({
                 searchString: 'foo'
             }).render();
diff --git a/common/static/common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers.js b/common/static/common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers.js
index a0e11f4825b3..885e874a38a1 100644
--- a/common/static/common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers.js
+++ b/common/static/common/js/spec_helpers/view_helpers.js
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ function(_, $, NotificationView, Prompt, AjaxHelpers) {
         installMockAnalytics, removeMockAnalytics, verifyPromptShowing, verifyPromptHidden,
         clickDeleteItem, patchAndVerifyRequest, submitAndVerifyFormSuccess, submitAndVerifyFormError;
 
+    // Register a single global afterEach to clean up jasmine.stealth constructor spies.
+    // Jasmine 2.99.x prohibits calling afterEach() from inside it()/beforeEach() callbacks,
+    // so we cannot register this inside createFeedbackSpy (which is called from it() blocks).
+    // Calling afterEach() at module scope (outside any describe/it) registers a global hook
+    // that runs after every spec. AMD caches this module, so the hook is registered exactly once.
+    afterEach(jasmine.stealth.clearSpies);
+
     installViewTemplates = function() {
         appendSetFixtures('<div id="page-notification"></div>');
     };
@@ -19,9 +26,6 @@ function(_, $, NotificationView, Prompt, AjaxHelpers) {
     createFeedbackSpy = function(type, intent) {
         var feedbackSpy = jasmine.stealth.spyOnConstructor(type, intent, ['show', 'hide']);
         feedbackSpy.show.and.returnValue(feedbackSpy);
-        if (afterEach) {
-            afterEach(jasmine.stealth.clearSpies);
-        }
         return feedbackSpy;
     };
 
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/api_admin/catalog_preview_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/api_admin/catalog_preview_spec.js
index 4e439fa8f0e9..ddb73f614eb1 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/api_admin/catalog_preview_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/api_admin/catalog_preview_spec.js
@@ -1,17 +1,25 @@
 define([
+    'sinon',
     'js/api_admin/views/catalog_preview',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers'
 ], function(
-    CatalogPreviewView, AjaxHelpers
+    sinon, CatalogPreviewView, AjaxHelpers
 ) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('Catalog preview view', function() {
         var view,
+            requests,
+            xhrFactory,
             previewUrl = 'http://example.com/api-admin/catalogs/preview/',
             catalogApiUrl = 'http://api.example.com/catalog/v1/courses/';
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             setFixtures(
                 '<div class="catalog-body">'
                 + '<textarea id="id_query"></textarea>'
@@ -26,12 +34,15 @@ define([
             view.render();
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('can render itself', function() {
             expect(view.$('button.preview-query').length).toBe(1);
         });
 
         it('can retrieve a list of catalogs and display them', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             view.$('#id_query').val('*');
             view.$('.preview-query').click();
             AjaxHelpers.expectRequest(requests, 'GET', previewUrl + '?q=*');
@@ -46,7 +57,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('displays an error when courses cannot be retrieved', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             view.$('#id_query').val('*');
             view.$('.preview-query').click();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests, 500);
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/ccx/schedule_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/ccx/schedule_spec.js
index 29ce7a6dc58f..b16c90b1fd02 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/ccx/schedule_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/ccx/schedule_spec.js
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
-define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/ccx/schedule'],
-    function(AjaxHelpers) {
+define(['sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/ccx/schedule'],
+    function(sinon, AjaxHelpers) {
         describe('edx.ccx.schedule.ScheduleView', function() {
             var view = null;
             var data;
+            var requests, xhrFactory;
 
             beforeEach(function() {
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
                 loadFixtures('js/fixtures/ccx/schedule.html');
 
                 var scheduleFixture = readFixtures('templates/ccx/schedule.underscore');
@@ -51,6 +57,10 @@ define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/ccx/schedule'],
                 view.render();
             });
 
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
+            });
+
             it('verifies correct view setup', function() {
                 expect(view.dirty).toBe(false);
                 expect(view.showing).toEqual([]);
@@ -204,7 +214,6 @@ define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/ccx/schedule'],
             });
 
             it('saves schedule changes', function() {
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 view.save();
                 expect(requests.length).toEqual(1);
                 AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'POST', 'save_ccx', view.schedule);
@@ -217,7 +226,6 @@ define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/ccx/schedule'],
             });
 
             it('displays an error if the sync fails', function() {
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 view.save();
                 requests[0].respond(500);
                 expect($('#ajax-error')).toHaveCss({display: 'block'});
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/dashboard/donation.js b/lms/static/js/spec/dashboard/donation.js
index 50edd8b255a9..66b07a175b9d 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/dashboard/donation.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/dashboard/donation.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-define(['common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
+define(['sinon', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/dashboard/donation'],
-function(TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers) {
+function(sinon, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('edx.dashboard.donation.DonationView', function() {
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ function(TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers) {
 
         var view = null;
         var requests = null;
+        var xhrFactory = null;
 
         beforeEach(function() {
             setFixtures('<div></div>');
@@ -34,12 +35,18 @@ function(TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers) {
 
             // Stub the analytics event tracker
             window.analytics = jasmine.createSpyObj('analytics', ['track']);
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         });
 
-        it('processes a donation for a course', function() {
-            // Spy on AJAX requests
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
 
+        it('processes a donation for a course', function() {
             // Enter a donation amount and proceed to the payment page
             view.$amount.val(AMOUNT);
             view.donate();
@@ -119,9 +126,6 @@ function(TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers) {
         });
 
         it('displays an error when the server cannot be contacted', function() {
-            // Spy on AJAX requests
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
             // Simulate an error from the LMS servers
             view.donate();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests);
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/discovery_factory_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/discovery_factory_spec.js
index 6ce1a9e2d657..25b87907be26 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/discovery_factory_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/discovery_factory_spec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
+    'jquery', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'js/discovery/discovery_factory'
-], function($, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, DiscoveryFactory) {
+], function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, DiscoveryFactory) {
     'use strict';
 
     var MEANINGS = {
@@ -94,7 +94,14 @@ define([
     };
 
     describe('discovery.DiscoveryFactory', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/discovery.html');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplates([
                 'templates/discovery/course_card',
@@ -110,10 +117,10 @@ define([
 
         afterEach(function() {
             jasmine.clock().uninstall();
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('does search', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.discovery-input').val('test');
             $('.discovery-submit').trigger('click');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, JSON_RESPONSE);
@@ -123,7 +130,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('loads more', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             $('.discovery-input').val('test');
             $('.discovery-submit').trigger('click');
@@ -141,7 +147,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('displays not found message', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.discovery-input').val('asdfasdf');
             $('.discovery-submit').trigger('click');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {});
@@ -151,7 +156,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('displays error message', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.discovery-input').val('asdfasdf');
             $('.discovery-submit').trigger('click');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests, 404, {error: 'some-search-error'});
@@ -161,7 +165,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('check filters and bar removed on clear all', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.discovery-input').val('test');
             $('.discovery-submit').trigger('click');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, JSON_RESPONSE);
@@ -173,7 +176,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('check filters and bar removed on last filter cleared', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.discovery-input').val('test');
             $('.discovery-submit').trigger('click');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, JSON_RESPONSE);
@@ -184,7 +186,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('filter results by named facet', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.discovery-input').val('test');
             $('.discovery-submit').trigger('click');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, JSON_RESPONSE);
@@ -198,7 +199,14 @@ define([
     });
 
     describe('discovery.DiscoveryFactory default filters', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/discovery.html');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplates([
                 'templates/discovery/course_card',
@@ -215,10 +223,10 @@ define([
 
         afterEach(function() {
             jasmine.clock().uninstall();
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('filters by default language', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.discovery-submit').trigger('click');
             var request = AjaxHelpers.currentRequest(requests);
             // make sure language filter is set
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/models/course_directory_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/models/course_directory_spec.js
index b7a0bb8f15ec..eafd4664b4a4 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/models/course_directory_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/models/course_directory_spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 define([
-    'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/discovery/models/course_discovery'
-], function(AjaxHelpers, CourseDiscovery) {
+    'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/discovery/models/course_discovery'
+], function(sinon, AjaxHelpers, CourseDiscovery) {
     'use strict';
 
     var JSON_RESPONSE = {
@@ -70,13 +70,23 @@ define([
     };
 
     describe('discovery.models.CourseDiscovery', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             this.discovery = new CourseDiscovery();
             this.discovery.fetch();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, JSON_RESPONSE);
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('parses server response', function() {
             expect(this.discovery.courseCards.length).toBe(1);
             expect(this.discovery.facetOptions.length).toBe(27);
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/models/search_state_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/models/search_state_spec.js
index 61dc4d1d3ef5..2d5f26733f79 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/models/search_state_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/discovery/models/search_state_spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 define([
-    'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/discovery/models/search_state'
-], function(AjaxHelpers, SearchState) {
+    'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/discovery/models/search_state'
+], function(sinon, AjaxHelpers, SearchState) {
     'use strict';
 
     var JSON_RESPONSE = {
@@ -29,7 +29,14 @@ define([
     };
 
     describe('discovery.models.SearchState', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             this.search = new SearchState();
             this.onSearch = jasmine.createSpy('onSearch');
             this.onNext = jasmine.createSpy('onNext');
@@ -39,8 +46,11 @@ define([
             this.search.on('error', this.onError);
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('perform search', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             this.search.performSearch('dummy');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, JSON_RESPONSE);
             expect(this.onSearch).toHaveBeenCalledWith('dummy', 365);
@@ -51,14 +61,12 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('returns an error', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             this.search.performSearch('');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests, 500);
             expect(this.onError).toHaveBeenCalled();
         });
 
         it('loads next page', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             this.search.performSearch('dummy');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, JSON_RESPONSE);
             this.search.loadNextPage();
@@ -67,7 +75,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('shows all results when there are none', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             this.search.performSearch('dummy', {modes: 'SomeOption'});
             // no results
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {total: 0});
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/plugins/events_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/plugins/events_spec.js
index 304c5746de19..46440c954b63 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/plugins/events_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/plugins/events_spec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'underscore', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers',
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers',
     'annotator_1.2.9', 'logger', 'js/edxnotes/views/notes_factory'
-], function($, _, AjaxHelpers, Helpers, Annotator, Logger, NotesFactory) {
+], function($, _, sinon, AjaxHelpers, Helpers, Annotator, Logger, NotesFactory) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('EdxNotes Events Plugin', function() {
@@ -20,8 +20,14 @@ define([
                 usage_id: 'usage-123',
                 tags: ['tag1', 'tag2']
             };
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             this.annotator = NotesFactory.factory(
                 $('<div />').get(0), {
                     endpoint: 'http://example.com/',
@@ -35,6 +41,7 @@ define([
             while (Annotator._instances.length > 0) {
                 Annotator._instances[0].destroy();
             }
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('should log edx.course.student_notes.viewed event properly', function() {
@@ -57,8 +64,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should log edx.course.student_notes.added event properly', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                newNote = {
+            var newNote = {
                     user: 'user-123',
                     text: 'text-123',
                     quote: 'quote-123',
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/plugins/store_error_handler_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/plugins/store_error_handler_spec.js
index fd4d78932613..b7a407015643 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/plugins/store_error_handler_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/plugins/store_error_handler_spec.js
@@ -1,14 +1,21 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'underscore', 'annotator_1.2.9',
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'annotator_1.2.9',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers',
     'js/edxnotes/views/notes_factory',
     'js/edxnotes/utils/notes_collector'
-], function($, _, Annotator, AjaxHelpers, Helpers, NotesFactory, NotesCollector) {
+], function($, _, sinon, Annotator, AjaxHelpers, Helpers, NotesFactory, NotesCollector) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('Store Error Handler Custom Message', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             spyOn(Annotator, 'showNotification');
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/edxnotes/edxnotes_wrapper.html');
             NotesCollector.cleanup();
@@ -18,10 +25,10 @@ define([
             while (Annotator._instances.length > 0) { // eslint-disable-line no-underscore-dangle
                 Annotator._instances[0].destroy(); // eslint-disable-line no-underscore-dangle
             }
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('can handle custom error if sent from server', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             var token = Helpers.makeToken();
             _.each($('.edx-notes-wrapper'), function(wrapper) {
                 NotesFactory.factory(wrapper, {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/utils/notes_collector_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/utils/notes_collector_spec.js
index 1c92151cbf45..d9c2d371a198 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/utils/notes_collector_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/utils/notes_collector_spec.js
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'underscore', 'annotator_1.2.9', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'annotator_1.2.9', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/edxnotes/views/notes_factory', 'js/edxnotes/utils/notes_collector', 'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers'
 ], function(
-    $, _, Annotator, AjaxHelpers, NotesFactory, NotesCollector, Helpers
+    $, _, sinon, Annotator, AjaxHelpers, NotesFactory, NotesCollector, Helpers
 ) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('EdxNotes NotesCollector', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/edxnotes/edxnotes_wrapper.html');
             NotesCollector.cleanup();
         });
@@ -17,11 +24,11 @@ define([
                 Annotator._instances[0].destroy(); // eslint-disable-line no-underscore-dangle
             }
             NotesCollector.cleanup();
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('sends single search request to fetch notes for all HTML components', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                token = Helpers.makeToken();
+            var token = Helpers.makeToken();
 
             _.each($('.edx-notes-wrapper'), function(wrapper, index) {
                 NotesFactory.factory(wrapper, {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/note_item_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/note_item_spec.js
index 5636c1e26f81..00e232e24534 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/note_item_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/note_item_spec.js
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'underscore', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers', 'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers', 'logger',
     'js/edxnotes/models/note', 'js/edxnotes/views/note_item'
 ], function(
-    $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, Helpers, Logger, NoteModel, NoteItemView
+    $, _, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, Helpers, Logger, NoteModel, NoteItemView
 ) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('EdxNotes NoteItemView', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
         var getView = function(model, scrollToTag, formattedText) {
             model = new NoteModel(_.defaults(model || {}, {
                 id: 'id-123',
@@ -26,10 +27,19 @@ define([
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/edxnotes/note-item');
             spyOn(Logger, 'log').and.callThrough();
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('can be rendered properly', function() {
             var view = getView(),
                 unitLink = view.$('.reference-unit-link').get(0);
@@ -111,8 +121,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should log the edx.course.student_notes.used_unit_link event properly', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                view = getView();
+            var view = getView();
             spyOn(view, 'redirectTo');
             view.$('.reference-unit-link').click();
             expect(Logger.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_factory_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_factory_spec.js
index dba04d47ac2e..dfd721daa3e7 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_factory_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_factory_spec.js
@@ -1,11 +1,18 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'underscore', 'annotator_1.2.9', 'js/edxnotes/views/notes_factory',
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'annotator_1.2.9', 'js/edxnotes/views/notes_factory',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/edxnotes/utils/notes_collector', 'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers'
-], function($, _, Annotator, NotesFactory, AjaxHelpers, NotesCollector, Helpers) {
+], function($, _, sinon, Annotator, NotesFactory, AjaxHelpers, NotesCollector, Helpers) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('EdxNotes NotesFactory', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/edxnotes/edxnotes_wrapper.html');
             NotesCollector.cleanup();
         });
@@ -14,11 +21,11 @@ define([
             while (Annotator._instances.length > 0) {
                 Annotator._instances[0].destroy();
             }
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('can initialize annotator correctly', function(done) {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                token = Helpers.makeToken(),
+            var token = Helpers.makeToken(),
                 options = {
                     user: 'a user',
                     usage_id: 'an usage',
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_page_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_page_spec.js
index 0ab25cfa9183..4503e8045bc5 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_page_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_page_spec.js
@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'underscore', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers',
     'js/edxnotes/views/page_factory'
-], function($, _, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Helpers, NotesFactory) {
+], function($, _, sinon, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Helpers, NotesFactory) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('EdxNotes NotesPage', function() {
         var notes = Helpers.getDefaultNotes();
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/edxnotes/edxnotes.html');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplates([
                 'templates/edxnotes/note-item', 'templates/edxnotes/tab-item'
@@ -16,9 +22,12 @@ define([
             this.view = new NotesFactory({notes: notes, pageSize: 10});
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('should be displayed properly', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                tab;
+            var tab;
 
             expect(this.view.$('#view-search-results')).not.toExist();
             tab = this.view.$('#view-recent-activity');
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_visibility_factory_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_visibility_factory_spec.js
index 6416d9035a82..7c15813439a2 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_visibility_factory_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/notes_visibility_factory_spec.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'underscore', 'annotator_1.2.9', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'annotator_1.2.9', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/edxnotes/views/notes_visibility_factory', 'js/edxnotes/utils/notes_collector', 'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers'
 ], function(
-    $, _, Annotator, AjaxHelpers, NotesVisibilityFactory, NotesCollector, Helpers
+    $, _, sinon, Annotator, AjaxHelpers, NotesVisibilityFactory, NotesCollector, Helpers
 ) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('EdxNotes ToggleNotesFactory', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
         var params = {
             endpoint: '/test_endpoint/',
             user: 'user12345',
@@ -17,6 +18,11 @@ define([
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures(
                 'js/fixtures/edxnotes/edxnotes_wrapper.html',
                 'js/fixtures/edxnotes/toggle_notes.html'
@@ -42,10 +48,10 @@ define([
             }
             $('.annotator-notice').remove();
             NotesCollector.cleanup();
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('can toggle notes', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             expect(this.toggleVisibilityButton).not.toHaveClass('is-disabled');
             expect(this.label).toContainText('Hide notes');
@@ -85,8 +91,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can handle errors', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                $errorContainer = $('.annotator-notice');
+            var $errorContainer = $('.annotator-notice');
 
             this.toggleVisibilityButton.click();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests);
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/search_box_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/search_box_spec.js
index a0ad28e4d9e2..33ada5f54587 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/search_box_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/search_box_spec.js
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 define([
     'jquery',
     'underscore',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/html-utils',
     'js/edxnotes/views/search_box',
     'js/edxnotes/collections/notes',
     'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers'
-], function($, _, AjaxHelpers, HtmlUtils, SearchBoxView, NotesCollection, Helpers) {
+], function($, _, sinon, AjaxHelpers, HtmlUtils, SearchBoxView, NotesCollection, Helpers) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('EdxNotes SearchBoxView', function() {
         var getSearchBox, submitForm, assertBoxIsEnabled, assertBoxIsDisabled, searchResponse;
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
 
         searchResponse = {
             count: 2,
@@ -53,14 +55,22 @@ define([
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/edxnotes/edxnotes.html');
             spyOn(Logger, 'log');
             this.searchBox = getSearchBox();
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('sends a request with proper information on submit the form', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                form = this.searchBox.el,
+            var form = this.searchBox.el,
                 request;
 
             submitForm(this.searchBox, 'test_text');
@@ -74,7 +84,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('returns success result', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             submitForm(this.searchBox, 'test_text');
             expect(this.searchBox.options.beforeSearchStart).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
                 'test_text'
@@ -91,7 +100,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('should log the edx.course.student_notes.searched event properly', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             submitForm(this.searchBox, 'test_text');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, searchResponse);
 
@@ -102,7 +110,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('returns default error message if received data structure is wrong', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             submitForm(this.searchBox, 'test_text');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {});
             expect(this.searchBox.options.error).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
@@ -115,7 +122,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('returns default error message if network error occurs', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             submitForm(this.searchBox, 'test_text');
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithError(requests);
             expect(this.searchBox.options.error).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
@@ -128,7 +134,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('returns error message if server error occurs', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             submitForm(this.searchBox, 'test_text');
             assertBoxIsDisabled(this.searchBox);
 
@@ -150,7 +155,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('does not send second request during current search', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             submitForm(this.searchBox, 'test_text');
             assertBoxIsDisabled(this.searchBox);
             submitForm(this.searchBox, 'another_text');
@@ -160,7 +164,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('returns error message if the field is empty', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             submitForm(this.searchBox, '   ');
             expect(requests).toHaveLength(0);
             assertBoxIsEnabled(this.searchBox);
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/tabs/recent_activity_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/tabs/recent_activity_spec.js
index 55272793ee17..c9093bd6dc81 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/tabs/recent_activity_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/tabs/recent_activity_spec.js
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
+    'jquery', 'sinon', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/edxnotes/collections/notes', 'js/edxnotes/collections/tabs', 'js/edxnotes/views/tabs/recent_activity',
     'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers'
 ], function(
-    $, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, NotesCollection, TabsCollection, RecentActivityView, Helpers
+    $, sinon, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, NotesCollection, TabsCollection, RecentActivityView, Helpers
 ) {
     'use strict';
 
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ define([
                     }
                 ]
             },
-            getView, tabInfo, recentActivityTabId;
+            getView, tabInfo, recentActivityTabId,
+            requests, xhrFactory;
 
         getView = function(collection, tabsCollection, options) {
             var view;
@@ -66,6 +67,11 @@ define([
         recentActivityTabId = '#recent-panel';
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/edxnotes/edxnotes.html');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplates([
                 'templates/edxnotes/note-item', 'templates/edxnotes/tab-item'
@@ -76,6 +82,10 @@ define([
             this.tabsCollection = new TabsCollection();
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('displays a tab and content with proper data and order', function() {
             var view = getView(this.collection, this.tabsCollection);
             Helpers.verifyPaginationInfo(view, 'Showing 1-3 out of 3 total', true, 1, 1);
@@ -100,7 +110,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can go to a page number', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             // eslint-disable-next-line no-shadow
             var notes = Helpers.createNotesData(
                 {
@@ -141,7 +150,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can navigate forward and backward', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             var page1Notes = Helpers.createNotesData(
                 {
                     numNotesToCreate: 10,
@@ -188,7 +196,6 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('sends correct page size value', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             // eslint-disable-next-line no-shadow
             var notes = Helpers.createNotesData(
                 {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/tabs/search_results_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/tabs/search_results_spec.js
index 74f94c2273b5..e44194fe47a1 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/tabs/search_results_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/edxnotes/views/tabs/search_results_spec.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 define([
-    'jquery', 'underscore', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'logger', 'js/edxnotes/collections/tabs', 'js/edxnotes/views/tabs/search_results',
     'js/spec/edxnotes/helpers'
 ], function(
-    $, _, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Logger, TabsCollection, SearchResultsView, Helpers
+    $, _, sinon, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Logger, TabsCollection, SearchResultsView, Helpers
 ) {
     'use strict';
 
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ define([
                 previous: null,
                 results: notes
             },
-            getView, submitForm, tabInfo, searchResultsTabId;
+            getView, submitForm, tabInfo, searchResultsTabId,
+            requests, xhrFactory;
 
         getView = function(tabsCollection, perPage, options) {
             options = _.defaults(options || {}, {
@@ -70,6 +71,11 @@ define([
         searchResultsTabId = '#search-results-panel';
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             loadFixtures('js/fixtures/edxnotes/edxnotes.html');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplates([
                 'templates/edxnotes/note-item', 'templates/edxnotes/tab-item'
@@ -78,6 +84,10 @@ define([
             this.tabsCollection = new TabsCollection();
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('does not create a tab and content on initialization', function() {
             var view = getView(this.tabsCollection);
             expect(this.tabsCollection).toHaveLength(0);
@@ -85,8 +95,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('displays a tab and content on search with proper data and order', function() {
-            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection);
 
             submitForm(view.searchBox, 'second');
             Helpers.respondToRequest(requests, responseJson, true);
@@ -95,8 +104,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('displays loading indicator when search is running', function() {
-            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection);
 
             submitForm(view.searchBox, 'test query');
             expect(view.$('.ui-loading')).not.toHaveClass('is-hidden');
@@ -109,8 +117,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('displays no results message', function() {
-            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection);
 
             submitForm(view.searchBox, 'some text');
             Helpers.respondToRequest(requests, _.extend(_.clone(responseJson), {count: 0, results: []}), true);
@@ -124,8 +131,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('does not send an additional request on switching between tabs', function() {
-            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection);
 
             spyOn(Logger, 'log');
             submitForm(view.searchBox, 'test_query');
@@ -144,8 +150,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can clear search results if tab is closed', function() {
-            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection);
             spyOn(view.searchBox, 'clearInput').and.callThrough();
 
             submitForm(view.searchBox, 'test_query');
@@ -157,8 +162,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can correctly show/hide error messages', function() {
-            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection);
 
             submitForm(view.searchBox, 'test error');
 
@@ -181,7 +185,6 @@ define([
 
         it('can correctly update search results', function() {
             var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
                 newNotes = [{
                     created: 'December 11, 2014 at 11:10AM',
                     updated: 'December 11, 2014 at 11:10AM',
@@ -213,7 +216,6 @@ define([
 
         it('will not render header and footer if there are no notes', function() {
             var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
                 // eslint-disable-next-line no-shadow
                 notes = {
                     count: 0,
@@ -232,7 +234,6 @@ define([
 
         it('can go to a page number', function() {
             var view = getView(this.tabsCollection),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
                 // eslint-disable-next-line no-shadow
                 notes = Helpers.createNotesData(
                     {
@@ -271,8 +272,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('can navigate forward and backward', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                page1Notes = Helpers.createNotesData(
+            var page1Notes = Helpers.createNotesData(
                     {
                         numNotesToCreate: 10,
                         count: 15,
@@ -318,8 +318,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         it('sends correct page size value', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                view = getView(this.tabsCollection, 5);
+            var view = getView(this.tabsCollection, 5);
 
             submitForm(view.searchBox, 'awesome');
             Helpers.verifyRequestParams(
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/groups/views/cohorts_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/groups/views/cohorts_spec.js
index 0a1e75f9c447..baabcdf87a38 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/groups/views/cohorts_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/groups/views/cohorts_spec.js
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 /* globals _ */
 
-define(['backbone', 'jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
+define(['backbone', 'jquery', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'js/groups/views/cohorts', 'js/groups/collections/cohort', 'js/groups/models/content_group',
     'js/groups/models/course_cohort_settings', 'js/utils/animation', 'js/vendor/jquery.qubit',
     'js/groups/views/course_cohort_settings_notification'
 ],
-function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, CohortsView, CohortCollection, ContentGroupModel,
+function(Backbone, $, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, CohortsView, CohortCollection, ContentGroupModel,
     CourseCohortSettingsModel, AnimationUtil, Qubit, CourseCohortSettingsNotificationView) {
     'use strict';
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, CohortsView, CohortCollectio
             notAllowedUserMessage,
             invalidEmailMessage, createMockCohort, createMockCohorts, createMockContentGroups,
             createMockCohortSettingsJson,
-            createCohortsView, cohortsView, requests, respondToRefresh, verifyMessage, verifyNoMessage,
+            createCohortsView, cohortsView, requests, xhrFactory, respondToRefresh, verifyMessage, verifyNoMessage,
             verifyDetailedMessage, verifyHeader,
             expectCohortAddRequest, getAddModal, selectContentGroup, clearContentGroup,
             saveFormAndExpectErrors, createMockCohortSettings, MOCK_COHORTED_USER_PARTITION_ID,
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, CohortsView, CohortCollectio
             cohortSettings.url = '/mock_service/cohorts/settings';
             cohorts.url = '/mock_service/cohorts';
 
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
             cohortsView = new CohortsView({
                 model: cohorts,
                 contentGroups: contentGroups,
@@ -215,6 +214,11 @@ function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, CohortsView, CohortCollectio
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             setFixtures('<ul class="instructor-nav">'
                     + '<li class="nav-item"><button type="button" data-section="cohort_management" '
                     + 'class="active-section">Cohort Management</button></li></ul><div></div>'
@@ -229,6 +233,10 @@ function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, CohortsView, CohortCollectio
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/file-upload');
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('shows an error if no cohorts are defined', function() {
             createCohortsView(this, {cohorts: []});
             verifyMessage(
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/groups/views/discussions_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/groups/views/discussions_spec.js
index ca872911427d..e386de07e3f4 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/groups/views/discussions_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/groups/views/discussions_spec.js
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
-define(['backbone', 'jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
+define(['backbone', 'jquery', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'js/discussions_management/views/discussions', 'js/discussions_management/models/course_discussions_detail',
     'js/discussions_management/models/course_discussions_settings'
 ],
-function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, DiscussionsView, CourseDiscussionTopicDetailsModel,
+function(Backbone, $, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, DiscussionsView, CourseDiscussionTopicDetailsModel,
     CourseDiscussionsSettingsModel) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('Discussions View', function() {
-        var createMockDiscussionsSettingsJson, createDiscussionsView, discussionsView, requests, verifyMessage,
+        var createMockDiscussionsSettingsJson, createDiscussionsView, discussionsView, requests, xhrFactory, verifyMessage,
             createMockDiscussionsSettings, createMockDiscussionsJson, createMockDiscussions,
             showAndAssertDiscussionTopics;
 
@@ -111,7 +111,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, DiscussionsView, CourseDiscu
             dividedDiscussions = discussionOptions.dividedDiscussions || createMockDiscussions();
             dividedDiscussions.url = '/mock_service/discussion/topics';
 
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
             discussionsView = new DiscussionsView({
                 el: $('.discussions-management'),
                 discussionSettings: discussionSettings,
@@ -147,6 +146,11 @@ function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, DiscussionsView, CourseDiscu
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             setFixtures('<ul class="instructor-nav">'
                     + '<li class="nav-item"><button type="button" data-section="discussion_management" '
                     + 'class="active-section">Discussions</button></li></ul><div></div>'
@@ -167,6 +171,10 @@ function(Backbone, $, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, DiscussionsView, CourseDiscu
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/notification');
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         describe('Discussion Topics', function() {
             var courseWideView, assertDividedTopics;
 
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_exception_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_exception_spec.js
index a48fa9f6fa37..a97a36998d3d 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_exception_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_exception_spec.js
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
 
     describe('edx.certificates.collections.certificate_allowlist.CertificateAllowlist', function() {
         var certificateAllowlist = null,
-            certificateExceptionUrl = 'test/url/';
+            certificateExceptionUrl = 'test/url/',
+            requests, xhrFactory;
         var certificatesExceptionsJson = [
             {
                 id: 1,
@@ -77,6 +78,11 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
         ];
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             certificateAllowlist = new CertificateAllowlistCollection(certificatesExceptionsJson, {
                 parse: true,
                 canBeEmpty: true,
@@ -85,6 +91,10 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
             });
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('has 2 models in the collection after initialization', function() {
             expect(certificateAllowlist.models.length).toEqual(2);
         });
@@ -126,7 +136,6 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
         it('sends empty certificate exceptions list if no model is added', function() {
             var successCallback = sinon.spy(),
                 errorCallback = sinon.spy(),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
                 addStudents = 'all';
             var expected = {
                 url: certificateExceptionUrl + addStudents,
@@ -140,7 +149,6 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
         it('syncs only newly added models with the server', function() {
             var successCallback = sinon.spy(),
                 errorCallback = sinon.spy(),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
                 addStudents = 'new',
                 expected;
 
@@ -293,7 +301,8 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
     describe('edx.certificates.views.certificate_allowlist_editor.CertificateAllowlistEditorView', function() {
         var view = null,
             listView = null,
-            certificateExceptionUrl = 'test/url/';
+            certificateExceptionUrl = 'test/url/',
+            requests, xhrFactory;
         var certificatesExceptionsJson = [
             {
                 url: certificateExceptionUrl,
@@ -319,6 +328,11 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
         ];
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             var fixture, fixture2, certificateAllowlist;
             setFixtures();
 
@@ -357,6 +371,10 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
             listView.render();
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('verifies view is initialized and rendered successfully', function() {
             expect(view).not.toBe(undefined);
             expect(view.$el.find('#certificate-exception').length).toBe(1);
@@ -368,7 +386,6 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
             var messageSelector = '.message',
                 successMessage = 'test_user has been successfully added to the exception list. Click Generate'
                         + ' Exception Certificate below to send the certificate.',
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
                 duplicateUser = 'test_user';
 
             var errorMessages = {
@@ -417,8 +434,7 @@ function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateExceptionModel, CertificateAllowlistV
         it('verifies certificate exception can be deleted by clicking "delete" ', function() {
             var username = 'test1',
                 certificateExceptionSelector = "div.allowlisted-students table tr:contains('" + username + "')",
-                deleteBtnSelector = certificateExceptionSelector + ' td .delete-exception',
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+                deleteBtnSelector = certificateExceptionSelector + ' td .delete-exception';
 
             $(deleteBtnSelector).click();
             AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {});
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_invalidation_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_invalidation_spec.js
index bedb7c970aba..3fb517a1fa5c 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_invalidation_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_invalidation_spec.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 /* global define */
 define([
     'jquery',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/certificates/models/certificate_invalidation',
     'js/certificates/views/certificate_invalidation_view',
     'js/certificates/collections/certificate_invalidation_collection'
 ],
-function($, AjaxHelpers, CertificateInvalidationModel, CertificateInvalidationView,
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers, CertificateInvalidationModel, CertificateInvalidationView,
     CertificateInvalidationCollection) {
     'use strict';
 
@@ -99,7 +100,8 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, CertificateInvalidationModel, CertificateInvalidationVi
             invalidate_button = null,
             duplicate_user = 'test2',
             new_user = 'test4@test.com',
-            requests = null;
+            requests = null,
+            xhrFactory = null;
 
         var messages = {
             error: {
@@ -163,7 +165,15 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers, CertificateInvalidationModel, CertificateInvalidationVi
             notes_field = $('#certificate-invalidation-notes');
             invalidate_button = $('#invalidate-certificate');
 
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('verifies view is initialized and rendered successfully', function() {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_spec.js
index e0558d558337..b2e1df912638 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/certificates_spec.js
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 /* global define, onCertificatesReady */
 define([
     'jquery',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/instructor_dashboard/certificates'
 ],
-function($, AjaxHelpers) {
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('edx.instructor_dashboard.certificates.regenerate_certificates', function() {
         var $regenerate_certificates_button = null,
             $certificate_regeneration_status = null,
-            requests = null;
+            requests = null,
+            xhrFactory = null;
         var MESSAGES = {
             success_message: 'Certificate regeneration task has been started. '
                     + 'You can view the status of the generation task in the "Pending Tasks" section.',
@@ -62,7 +64,15 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers) {
             onCertificatesReady();
             $regenerate_certificates_button = $('#btn-start-regenerating-certificates');
             $certificate_regeneration_status = $('.certificate-regeneration-status');
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('does not regenerate certificates if user cancels operation in confirm popup', function() {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/membership_auth_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/membership_auth_spec.js
index 0d4ba1bb273f..2eaaea35458b 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/membership_auth_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/membership_auth_spec.js
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
 /* global define, Membership */
 define(['jquery',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/instructor_dashboard/membership'],
-function($, AjaxHelpers) {
+function($, sinon, AjaxHelpers) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('Membership.AuthListWidget', function() {
         var membership, // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
-            changeSelectedList;
+            changeSelectedList,
+            requests,
+            xhrFactory;
 
         changeSelectedList = function(listName) {
             var i, options;
@@ -22,6 +25,11 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers) {
         };
 
         beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             var membershipMain, membershipTpl;
             membershipMain = readFixtures('js/fixtures/instructor_dashboard/membership.html');
             membershipTpl = readFixtures(
@@ -34,9 +42,12 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers) {
             membership = new window.InstructorDashboard.sections.Membership($('#membership'));
         });
 
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
+
         it('binds the ajax call and the result will be success for Group Moderator', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                data,
+            var data,
                 url = '/courses/course-v1:edx+ed202+2017_T3/instructor/api/list_forum_members';
 
             data = {
@@ -66,7 +77,6 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers) {
 
         it('Error message is shown if user with given identifier does not exist', function() {
             var url, params;
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             $('.active .add-field').val('smth');
             $('.active .add').click();
             expect(requests.length).toEqual(1);
@@ -90,8 +100,7 @@ function($, AjaxHelpers) {
         });
 
         it('When no discussions division scheme is selected error is shown and inputs are disabled', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                data,
+            var data,
                 url = '/courses/course-v1:edx+ed202+2017_T3/instructor/api/list_forum_members';
 
             data = {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/student_admin_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/student_admin_spec.js
index a4314228e006..efaedc646caf 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/student_admin_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/instructor_dashboard/student_admin_spec.js
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 /* globals _, interpolate_text, statusAjaxError, PendingInstructorTasks, createTaskListTable */
-define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers'],
-    function($, StudentAdmin, AjaxHelpers) {
+define(['jquery', 'sinon', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers'],
+    function($, sinon, StudentAdmin, AjaxHelpers) {
         // 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin'
 
         'use strict';
 
         describe('edx.instructor_dashboard.student_admin.StudentAdmin', function() {
-            var studentadmin, dashboardApiUrl, uniqStudentIdentifier, alertMsg;
+            var studentadmin, dashboardApiUrl, uniqStudentIdentifier, alertMsg, requests, xhrFactory;
 
             beforeEach(function() {
                 loadFixtures('js/fixtures/instructor_dashboard/student_admin.html');
@@ -23,6 +23,15 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
                 spyOn(window, 'alert').and.callFake(function(message) {
                     alertMsg = message;
                 });
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+            });
+
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
             });
 
             it('initiates resetting of entrance exam when button is clicked', function() {
@@ -32,9 +41,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
                 });
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/reset_student_attempts_for_entrance_exam';
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
                 // Verify that the client contacts the server to start instructor task
                 var params = $.param({
                     unique_student_identifier: uniqStudentIdentifier,
@@ -61,8 +67,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
 
             it('shows an error when resetting of entrance exam fails', function() {
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/reset_student_attempts_for_entrance_exam';
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 // Verify that the client contacts the server to start instructor task
                 var params = $.param({
                     unique_student_identifier: uniqStudentIdentifier,
@@ -92,8 +96,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
                 });
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/rescore_entrance_exam';
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 // Verify that the client contacts the server to start instructor task
                 var params = $.param({
                     unique_student_identifier: uniqStudentIdentifier,
@@ -120,8 +122,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
 
             it('shows an error when entrance exam rescoring fails', function() {
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/rescore_entrance_exam';
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 // Verify that the client contacts the server to start instructor task
                 var params = $.param({
                     unique_student_identifier: uniqStudentIdentifier,
@@ -153,9 +153,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
                 });
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/mark_student_can_skip_entrance_exam';
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
                 studentadmin.$btn_skip_entrance_exam.click();
                 // expect error to be shown since student identifier is not set
                 expect(studentadmin.$request_err_ee.text()).toEqual(
@@ -177,8 +174,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
             });
 
             it('shows an error when skip entrance exam fails', function() {
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/mark_student_can_skip_entrance_exam';
                 var errorMessage = "An error occurred. Make sure that the student's username or email address is correct and try again."; //  eslint-disable-line max-len
                 studentadmin.$field_exam_grade.val(uniqStudentIdentifier);
@@ -201,8 +196,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
                 });
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/reset_student_attempts_for_entrance_exam';
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 // Verify that the client contacts the server to start instructor task
                 var params = $.param({
                     unique_student_identifier: uniqStudentIdentifier,
@@ -228,8 +221,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
 
             it('shows an error when delete student state for entrance exam fails', function() {
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/reset_student_attempts_for_entrance_exam';
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var params = $.param({
                     unique_student_identifier: uniqStudentIdentifier,
                     delete_module: true
@@ -253,8 +244,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
             it('initiates listing of entrance exam task history when button is clicked', function() {
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/list_entrance_exam_instructor_tasks';
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var params = $.param({
                     unique_student_identifier: uniqStudentIdentifier
                 });
@@ -290,8 +279,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'js/instructor_dashboard/student_admin', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/ut
 
             it('shows an error when listing entrance exam task history fails', function() {
                 var url = dashboardApiUrl + '/list_entrance_exam_instructor_tasks';
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var params = $.param({
                     unique_student_identifier: uniqStudentIdentifier
                 });
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/shoppingcart/shoppingcart_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/shoppingcart/shoppingcart_spec.js
index e600bcc73e95..66a1e4618a6d 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/shoppingcart/shoppingcart_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/shoppingcart/shoppingcart_spec.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/shoppingcart/shoppingcart'],
-    function(AjaxHelpers) {
+define(['sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/shoppingcart/shoppingcart'],
+    function(sinon, AjaxHelpers) {
         'use strict';
 
         describe('edx.shoppingcart.showcart.CartView', function() {
             var view = null;
             var requests = null;
+            var xhrFactory = null;
 
             beforeEach(function() {
                 setFixtures('<section class="wrapper confirm-enrollment shopping-cart cart-view"><form action="" method="post"><input type="hidden" name="" value="" /><span class="icon fa fa-caret-right"></span><input type="submit" value="Payment"/></form></section>'); // eslint-disable-line max-len
@@ -15,8 +16,11 @@ define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/shoppingcart/sh
 
                 spyOn(view, 'responseFromServer').and.callFake(function() {});
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
 
                 view.submit();
 
@@ -27,6 +31,10 @@ define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/shoppingcart/sh
                 );
             });
 
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
+            });
+
             it('cart has invalid items, course enrollment has been closed', function() {
                 // Simulate a response from the server containing the
                 // parameter 'is_course_enrollment_closed'. This decides that
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/staff_debug_actions_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/staff_debug_actions_spec.js
index dc605d75f974..6a0a4b1994f4 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/staff_debug_actions_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/staff_debug_actions_spec.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 define([
     'backbone',
     'jquery',
+    'sinon',
     'js/staff_debug_actions',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers'
 ],
-function(Backbone, $, tmp, AjaxHelpers) {
+function(Backbone, $, sinon, tmp, AjaxHelpers) {
     'use strict';
 
     var StaffDebug = window.StaffDebug;
@@ -23,6 +24,19 @@ function(Backbone, $, tmp, AjaxHelpers) {
         var esclocationName = 'P2:problem_1';
         var escapableId = 'result_' + esclocationName;
         var $escapableResultArea = $('<div>', {id: escapableId});
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
+
+        beforeEach(function() {
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
 
         describe('getURL ', function() {
             it('defines url to courseware ajax entry point', function() {
@@ -83,7 +97,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, tmp, AjaxHelpers) {
         describe('doInstructorDashAction success', function() {
             it('adds a success message to the results element after using an action', function() {
                 $('body').append($escapableResultArea);
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var action = {
                     courseId: courseId,
                     locationName: esclocationName,
@@ -98,7 +111,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, tmp, AjaxHelpers) {
         describe('doInstructorDashAction error', function() {
             it('adds a failure message to the results element after using an action', function() {
                 $('body').append($escapableResultArea);
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 var action = {
                     courseId: courseId,
                     locationName: esclocationName,
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/access_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/access_spec.js
index 142fa1fb4a1e..622f6346ff0a 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/access_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/access_spec.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
         'jquery',
         'underscore',
         'backbone',
+        'sinon',
         'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
         'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
         'js/student_account/views/AccessView',
@@ -13,10 +14,11 @@
         'js/student_account/shoppingcart',
         'js/student_account/emailoptin'
     ],
-    function($, _, Backbone, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, AccessView, FormView, EnrollmentInterface,
+    function($, _, Backbone, sinon, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, AccessView, FormView, EnrollmentInterface,
         ShoppingCartInterface) {
         describe('edx.student.account.AccessView', function() {
             var requests = null,
+                xhrFactory = null,
                 view = null,
                 FORM_DESCRIPTION = {
                     method: 'post',
@@ -72,9 +74,6 @@
                     },
                     $logistrationElement = $('#login-and-registration-container');
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(that);
-
                 // Initialize the access view
                 view = new AccessView(_.extend(options, {el: $logistrationElement}));
 
@@ -114,10 +113,16 @@
 
                 // Stub analytics tracking
                 window.analytics = jasmine.createSpyObj('analytics', ['track', 'page', 'pageview', 'trackLink']);
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             });
 
             afterEach(function() {
                 Backbone.history.stop();
+                requests.restore();
             });
 
             it('can initially display the login form', function() {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/emailoptin_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/emailoptin_spec.js
index c13e77931958..3932d276a1c9 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/emailoptin_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/emailoptin_spec.js
@@ -1,15 +1,26 @@
-define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account/emailoptin'],
-    function(AjaxHelpers, EmailOptInInterface) {
+define(['sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account/emailoptin'],
+    function(sinon, AjaxHelpers, EmailOptInInterface) {
         'use strict';
 
         describe('EmailOptInInterface', function() {
             var COURSE_KEY = 'edX/DemoX/Fall',
                 EMAIL_OPT_IN = 'True',
-                EMAIL_OPT_IN_URL = '/api/user/v1/preferences/email_opt_in/';
+                EMAIL_OPT_IN_URL = '/api/user/v1/preferences/email_opt_in/',
+                requests, xhrFactory;
+
+            beforeEach(function() {
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+            });
+
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
+            });
 
             it('Opts in for organization emails', function() {
-                // Spy on Ajax requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
                 // Attempt to enroll the user
                 EmailOptInInterface.setPreference(COURSE_KEY, EMAIL_OPT_IN);
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/enrollment_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/enrollment_spec.js
index 1467b061d31d..bd83b47a5edd 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/enrollment_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/enrollment_spec.js
@@ -1,22 +1,29 @@
-define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account/enrollment'],
-    function(AjaxHelpers, EnrollmentInterface) {
+define(['sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account/enrollment'],
+    function(sinon, AjaxHelpers, EnrollmentInterface) {
         'use strict';
 
         describe('EnrollmentInterface', function() {
             var COURSE_KEY = 'edX/DemoX/Fall',
                 ENROLL_URL = '/api/commerce/v0/baskets/',
                 FORWARD_URL = '/course_modes/choose/edX/DemoX/Fall/',
-                EMBARGO_MSG_URL = '/embargo/blocked-message/enrollment/default/';
+                EMBARGO_MSG_URL = '/embargo/blocked-message/enrollment/default/',
+                requests, xhrFactory;
 
             beforeEach(function() {
                 // Mock the redirect call
                 spyOn(EnrollmentInterface, 'redirect').and.callFake(function() {});
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             });
 
-            it('enrolls a user in a course', function() {
-                // Spy on Ajax requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
+            });
 
+            it('enrolls a user in a course', function() {
                 // Attempt to enroll the user
                 EnrollmentInterface.enroll(COURSE_KEY, FORWARD_URL);
 
@@ -36,9 +43,6 @@ define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account
             });
 
             it('redirects the user if enrollment fails', function() {
-                // Spy on Ajax requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
                 // Attempt to enroll the user
                 EnrollmentInterface.enroll(COURSE_KEY, FORWARD_URL);
 
@@ -50,9 +54,6 @@ define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account
             });
 
             it('redirects the user if blocked by an embargo', function() {
-                // Spy on Ajax requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
                 // Attempt to enroll the user
                 EnrollmentInterface.enroll(COURSE_KEY, FORWARD_URL);
 
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/finish_auth_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/finish_auth_spec.js
index b440ca4e458e..9af9d3dbe385 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/finish_auth_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/finish_auth_spec.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     define([
         'jquery',
         'jquery.url',
+        'sinon',
         'utility',
         'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
         'js/student_account/views/FinishAuthView',
@@ -11,17 +12,16 @@
         'js/student_account/shoppingcart',
         'js/student_account/emailoptin'
     ],
-    function($, url, utility, AjaxHelpers, FinishAuthView, EnrollmentInterface, ShoppingCartInterface,
+    function($, url, sinon, utility, AjaxHelpers, FinishAuthView, EnrollmentInterface, ShoppingCartInterface,
         EmailOptInInterface) {
         describe('FinishAuthView', function() {
             var requests = null,
                 view = null,
+                xhrFactory = null,
                 FORWARD_URL = '/courseware/next',
                 COURSE_KEY = 'course-v1:edX+test+15';
 
-            var ajaxSpyAndInitialize = function(that) {
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(that);
+            var ajaxSpyAndInitialize = function() {
 
                 // Initialize the access view
                 view = new FinishAuthView({});
@@ -55,6 +55,15 @@
             beforeEach(function() {
                 // Stub analytics tracking
                 window.analytics = jasmine.createSpyObj('analytics', ['track', 'page', 'pageview', 'trackLink']);
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+            });
+
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
             });
 
             it('saves the email opt-in preference before enrollment', function() {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/login_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/login_spec.js
index 2d1c481fb23e..fe62de38976c 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/login_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/login_spec.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
                 resetModel = null,
                 view = null,
                 requests = null,
+                xhrFactory = null,
                 authComplete = false,
                 PLATFORM_NAME = 'edX',
                 ENTERPRISE_SLUG_LOGIN_URL = 'enterprise/login',
@@ -96,9 +97,6 @@
                     isEnterpriseEnable: IS_ENTERPRISE_ENABLE
                 });
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
-
                 // Intercept events from the view
                 authComplete = false;
                 view.on('auth-complete', function() {
@@ -132,6 +130,15 @@
                 setFixtures('<div id="login-form"></div>');
                 TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/student_account/login');
                 TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/student_account/form_field');
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+            });
+
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
             });
 
             it('logs the user in', function() {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/multiple_enterprise_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/multiple_enterprise_spec.js
index 0c7bdeb2e356..958e97a6dd52 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/multiple_enterprise_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/multiple_enterprise_spec.js
@@ -1,27 +1,35 @@
 define([
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'js/student_account/multiple_enterprise',
     'js/student_account/utils'
 ],
-function(AjaxHelpers, MultipleEnterpriseInterface, Utils) {
+function(sinon, AjaxHelpers, MultipleEnterpriseInterface, Utils) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('MultipleEnterpriseInterface', function() {
         var LEARNER_URL = '/enterprise/api/v1/enterprise-learner/?username=test-learner',
             NEXT_URL = '/dashboard',
             REDIRECT_URL = '/enterprise/select/active/?success_url=%2Fdashboard',
-            ENTERPRISE_ACTIVATION_URL = '/enterprise/select/active';
+            ENTERPRISE_ACTIVATION_URL = '/enterprise/select/active',
+            requests, xhrFactory;
 
         beforeEach(function() {
             // Mock the redirect call
             spyOn(MultipleEnterpriseInterface, 'redirect').and.callFake(function() {});
             spyOn(Utils, 'userFromEdxUserCookie').and.returnValue({username: 'test-learner'});
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         });
 
-        it('gets learner information and checks redirect to enterprise selection page', function() {
-            // Spy on Ajax requests
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
 
+        it('gets learner information and checks redirect to enterprise selection page', function() {
             // Attempt to fetch a learner
             MultipleEnterpriseInterface.check(NEXT_URL);
 
@@ -41,8 +49,6 @@ function(AjaxHelpers, MultipleEnterpriseInterface, Utils) {
         });
 
         it('checks bypass of enterprise selection page in case of enterprise in URL', function() {
-            // Spy on Ajax requests
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             spyOn(MultipleEnterpriseInterface, 'getEnterpriseFromUrl').and.returnValue('SomeEnterprise');
             spyOn(MultipleEnterpriseInterface, 'checkEnterpriseExists').and.returnValue(true);
 
@@ -75,8 +81,6 @@ function(AjaxHelpers, MultipleEnterpriseInterface, Utils) {
         });
 
         it('checks enterprise selection page redirect in case of enterprise activation failure', function() {
-            // Spy on Ajax requests
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             spyOn(MultipleEnterpriseInterface, 'getEnterpriseFromUrl').and.returnValue('SomeEnterprise');
             spyOn(MultipleEnterpriseInterface, 'checkEnterpriseExists').and.returnValue(true);
 
@@ -110,9 +114,6 @@ function(AjaxHelpers, MultipleEnterpriseInterface, Utils) {
         });
 
         it('gets learner information and checks that enterprise selection page is bypassed', function() {
-            // Spy on Ajax requests
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
             // Attempt to fetch a learner
             MultipleEnterpriseInterface.check(NEXT_URL);
 
@@ -132,9 +133,6 @@ function(AjaxHelpers, MultipleEnterpriseInterface, Utils) {
         });
 
         it('correctly redirects the user if learner information call fails', function() {
-            // Spy on Ajax requests
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
             // Attempt to fetch a learner
             MultipleEnterpriseInterface.check(NEXT_URL);
 
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/password_reset_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/password_reset_spec.js
index 68d6172f5ccb..78f7feea90fa 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/password_reset_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/password_reset_spec.js
@@ -4,16 +4,18 @@
     define([
         'jquery',
         'underscore',
+        'sinon',
         'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
         'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
         'js/student_account/models/PasswordResetModel',
         'js/student_account/views/PasswordResetView'
     ],
-    function($, _, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, PasswordResetModel, PasswordResetView) {
+    function($, _, sinon, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, PasswordResetModel, PasswordResetView) {
         describe('edx.student.account.PasswordResetView', function() {
             var model = null,
                 view = null,
                 requests = null,
+                xhrFactory = null,
                 EMAIL = 'xsy@edx.org',
                 FORM_DESCRIPTION = {
                     method: 'post',
@@ -43,8 +45,6 @@
                     model: model
                 });
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(that);
             };
 
             var submitEmail = function(validationSuccess) {
@@ -72,6 +72,15 @@
                 setFixtures('<div id="password-reset-form" class="form-wrapper hidden"></div>');
                 TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/student_account/password_reset');
                 TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/student_account/form_field');
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+            });
+
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
             });
 
             it('allows the user to request a new password', function() {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
index 17d82e2b13d6..d886106b762c 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
@@ -4,17 +4,19 @@
     define([
         'jquery',
         'underscore',
+        'sinon',
         'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
         'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
         'js/student_account/models/RegisterModel',
         'js/student_account/views/RegisterView',
         'js/student_account/tos_modal'
     ],
-    function($, _, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, RegisterModel, RegisterView) {
+    function($, _, sinon, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, RegisterModel, RegisterView) {
         describe('edx.student.account.RegisterView', function() {
             var model = null,
                 view = null,
                 requests = null,
+                xhrFactory = null,
                 authComplete = false,
                 PLATFORM_NAME = 'edX',
                 COURSE_ID = 'edX/DemoX/Fall',
@@ -245,9 +247,6 @@
                     platformName: PLATFORM_NAME
                 });
 
-                // Spy on AJAX requests
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(that);
-
                 // Intercept events from the view
                 authComplete = false;
                 view.on('auth-complete', function() {
@@ -323,6 +322,15 @@
                 setFixtures('<div id="register-form"></div>');
                 TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/student_account/register');
                 TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/student_account/form_field');
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+            });
+
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
             });
 
             it('registers a new user', function() {
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/shoppingcart_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/shoppingcart_spec.js
index 69ed04ba7c44..73d43ed43307 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/shoppingcart_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/shoppingcart_spec.js
@@ -1,21 +1,28 @@
-define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account/shoppingcart'],
-    function(AjaxHelpers, ShoppingCartInterface) {
+define(['sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account/shoppingcart'],
+    function(sinon, AjaxHelpers, ShoppingCartInterface) {
         'use strict';
 
         describe('ShoppingCartInterface', function() {
             var COURSE_KEY = 'edX/DemoX/Fall',
                 ADD_COURSE_URL = '/shoppingcart/add/course/edX/DemoX/Fall/',
-                FORWARD_URL = '/shoppingcart/';
+                FORWARD_URL = '/shoppingcart/',
+                requests, xhrFactory;
 
             beforeEach(function() {
                 // Mock the redirect call
                 spyOn(ShoppingCartInterface, 'redirect').and.callFake(function() {});
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
             });
 
-            it('adds a course to the cart', function() {
-                // Spy on Ajax requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
+            });
 
+            it('adds a course to the cart', function() {
                 // Attempt to add a course to the cart
                 ShoppingCartInterface.addCourseToCart(COURSE_KEY);
 
@@ -30,9 +37,6 @@ define(['edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/student_account
             });
 
             it('redirects the user on a server error', function() {
-                // Spy on Ajax requests
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
                 // Attempt to add a course to the cart
                 ShoppingCartInterface.addCourseToCart(COURSE_KEY);
 
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/make_payment_step_view_ab_testing_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/make_payment_step_view_ab_testing_spec.js
index 31aa924130cb..986154936e1d 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/make_payment_step_view_ab_testing_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/make_payment_step_view_ab_testing_spec.js
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@ define([
     'jquery',
     'underscore',
     'backbone',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'js/verify_student/views/make_payment_step_view'
 ],
-function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
+function($, _, Backbone, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
     'use strict';
 
     var checkPaymentButtons,
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
         SERVER_ERROR_MSG = 'An error occurred!';
 
     describe('edx.verify_student.MakePaymentStepView', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
         var STEP_DATA = {
             minPrice: '12',
             currency: 'usd',
@@ -129,6 +131,15 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
 
             setFixtures('<div id="current-step-container"></div>');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/verify_student/make_payment_step_ab_testing');
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('A/B Testing: check Initialize method with AB testing enable ', function() {
@@ -138,8 +149,7 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
         });
 
         it('shows users only minimum price', function() {
-            var view = createView(),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = createView();
 
             expectPriceSelected(STEP_DATA.minPrice);
             expectPaymentButtonEnabled(true);
@@ -154,12 +164,12 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
 
         it('A/B Testing: provides working payment buttons for a single processor', function() {
             createView({processors: ['cybersource']});
-            checkPaymentButtons(AjaxHelpers.requests(this), {cybersource: 'Checkout'});
+            checkPaymentButtons(requests, {cybersource: 'Checkout'});
         });
 
         it('A/B Testing: provides working payment buttons for multiple processors', function() {
             createView({processors: ['cybersource', 'paypal', 'other']});
-            checkPaymentButtons(AjaxHelpers.requests(this), {
+            checkPaymentButtons(requests, {
                 cybersource: 'Checkout',
                 paypal: 'Checkout with PayPal',
                 other: 'Checkout with other'
@@ -167,8 +177,7 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
         });
 
         it('A/B Testing: by default minimum price is selected if no suggested prices are given', function() {
-            var view = createView(),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = createView();
 
             expectPriceSelected(STEP_DATA.minPrice);
             expectPaymentButtonEnabled(true);
@@ -198,8 +207,7 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
         });
 
         it('A/B Testing: displays an error if the order could not be created', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                view = createView();
+            var view = createView();
 
             goToPayment(requests, {
                 amount: STEP_DATA.minPrice,
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/make_payment_step_view_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/make_payment_step_view_spec.js
index fa24a757d58f..59e3cc8f4cf3 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/make_payment_step_view_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/make_payment_step_view_spec.js
@@ -2,14 +2,16 @@ define([
     'jquery',
     'underscore',
     'backbone',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'js/verify_student/views/make_payment_step_view'
 ],
-function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
+function($, _, Backbone, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('edx.verify_student.MakePaymentStepView', function() {
+        var requests, xhrFactory;
         var PAYMENT_PARAMS = {
             orderId: 'test-order',
             signature: 'abcd1234'
@@ -124,11 +126,19 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
 
             setFixtures('<div id="current-step-container"></div>');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/verify_student/make_payment_step');
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('shows users only minimum price', function() {
-            var view = createView({}),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = createView({});
 
             expectPriceSelected(STEP_DATA.minPrice);
             expectPaymentButtonEnabled(true);
@@ -184,12 +194,12 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
 
         it('provides working payment buttons for a single processor', function() {
             createView({processors: ['cybersource']});
-            checkPaymentButtons(AjaxHelpers.requests(this), {cybersource: 'Checkout'});
+            checkPaymentButtons(requests, {cybersource: 'Checkout'});
         });
 
         it('provides working payment buttons for multiple processors', function() {
             createView({processors: ['cybersource', 'paypal', 'other']});
-            checkPaymentButtons(AjaxHelpers.requests(this), {
+            checkPaymentButtons(requests, {
                 cybersource: 'Checkout',
                 paypal: 'Checkout with PayPal',
                 other: 'Checkout with other'
@@ -197,8 +207,7 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
         });
 
         it('by default minimum price is selected if no suggested prices are given', function() {
-            var view = createView(),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = createView();
 
             expectPriceSelected(STEP_DATA.minPrice);
             expectPaymentButtonEnabled(true);
@@ -228,8 +237,7 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, MakePaymentStepView) {
         });
 
         it('displays an error if the order could not be created', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                view = createView({});
+            var view = createView({});
 
             goToPayment(requests, {
                 amount: STEP_DATA.minPrice,
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/review_photos_step_view_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/review_photos_step_view_spec.js
index 68f84306b3ce..e3d046db9c10 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/review_photos_step_view_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/verify_student/review_photos_step_view_spec.js
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ define([
     'jquery',
     'underscore',
     'backbone',
+    'sinon',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'js/verify_student/views/review_photos_step_view',
     'js/verify_student/models/verification_model'
 ],
-function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ReviewPhotosStepView, VerificationModel) {
+function($, _, Backbone, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ReviewPhotosStepView, VerificationModel) {
     'use strict';
 
     describe('edx.verify_student.ReviewPhotosStepView', function() {
@@ -15,7 +16,8 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ReviewPhotosStepView, Ver
             FULL_NAME = 'Test User',
             FACE_IMAGE = 'abcd1234',
             PHOTO_ID_IMAGE = 'efgh56789',
-            SERVER_ERROR_MSG = 'An error occurred!';
+            SERVER_ERROR_MSG = 'An error occurred!',
+            requests, xhrFactory;
 
         var createView = function() {
             return new ReviewPhotosStepView({
@@ -64,11 +66,18 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ReviewPhotosStepView, Ver
 
             setFixtures('<div id="current-step-container"></div>');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/verify_student/review_photos_step');
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         });
 
-        it('allows the user to change her full name', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
+        });
 
+        it('allows the user to change her full name', function() {
             createView();
             setFullName(FULL_NAME);
             submitPhotos(
@@ -83,8 +92,6 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ReviewPhotosStepView, Ver
         });
 
         it('submits photos for verification', function() {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
-
             createView();
             submitPhotos(
                 requests,
@@ -101,8 +108,7 @@ function($, _, Backbone, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, ReviewPhotosStepView, Ver
         });
 
         it('displays an error if photo submission fails', function() {
-            var view = createView(),
-                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
+            var view = createView();
 
             submitPhotos(
                 requests,
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/views/fields_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/views/fields_spec.js
index 4137dd01232b..6f65f90a7aa8 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/views/fields_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/views/fields_spec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-define(['backbone', 'jquery', 'underscore', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
+define(['backbone', 'jquery', 'underscore', 'sinon', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
     'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers', 'js/views/fields', 'js/spec/views/fields_helpers',
     'string_utils'],
-function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpecHelpers) {
+function(Backbone, $, _, sinon, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpecHelpers) {
     'use strict';
 
     var USERNAME = 'Legolas',
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
 
     describe('edx.FieldViews', function() {
         var requests,
+            xhrFactory,
             timerCallback,
             dropdownSelectClass = '.u-field-value > select',
             dropdownButtonClass = '.u-field-value > button',
@@ -25,10 +26,16 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         beforeEach(function() {
             timerCallback = jasmine.createSpy('timerCallback');
             jasmine.clock().install();
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
         });
 
         afterEach(function() {
             jasmine.clock().uninstall();
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('updates messages correctly for all fields', function() {
@@ -60,7 +67,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         });
 
         it('sends a PATCH request when saveAttributes is called', function() {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             var fieldViewClass = FieldViews.EditableFieldView;
             var fieldData = FieldViewsSpecHelpers.createFieldData(fieldViewClass, {
@@ -99,7 +105,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         });
 
         it('correctly renders, updates and persists changes to TextFieldView when editable == always', function() {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             var fieldData = FieldViewsSpecHelpers.createFieldData(FieldViews.TextFieldView, {
                 title: 'Full Name',
@@ -122,7 +127,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         });
 
         it('correctly renders and updates DropdownFieldView when editable == never', function() {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             var fieldData = FieldViewsSpecHelpers.createFieldData(FieldViews.DropdownFieldView, {
                 title: 'Full Name',
@@ -160,7 +164,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         });
 
         it('correctly renders, updates and persists changes to DropdownFieldView when editable == always', function() {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             var fieldData = FieldViewsSpecHelpers.createFieldData(FieldViews.DropdownFieldView, {
                 title: 'Full Name',
@@ -183,7 +186,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         });
 
         it('correctly renders, updates and persists changes to DropdownFieldView when editable == toggle', function() {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             var fieldData = FieldViewsSpecHelpers.createFieldData(FieldViews.DropdownFieldView, {
                 title: 'Full Name',
@@ -208,7 +210,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         });
 
         it('only shows empty option in DropdownFieldView if required is false or model value is not set', function() {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             var editableOptions = ['toggle', 'always'];
             _.each(editableOptions, function(editable) {
@@ -271,7 +272,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         });
 
         it('correctly renders, updates and persists changes to TextAreaFieldView when editable == toggle', function() {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
 
             var valueInputSelector = '.u-field-value > textarea';
             var fieldData = FieldViewsSpecHelpers.createFieldData(FieldViews.TextareaFieldView, {
@@ -327,7 +327,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, _, AjaxHelpers, TemplateHelpers, FieldViews, FieldViewsSpe
         });
 
         it("can't persist changes if persistChanges is off", function() {
-            requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
             var fieldClasses = [
                 FieldViews.TextFieldView,
                 FieldViews.DropdownFieldView,
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/views/file_uploader_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/views/file_uploader_spec.js
index f74cb1f3be3d..b55cbb76902e 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/views/file_uploader_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/views/file_uploader_spec.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-define(['backbone', 'jquery', 'js/views/file_uploader', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
+define(['backbone', 'jquery', 'sinon', 'js/views/file_uploader', 'common/js/spec_helpers/template_helpers',
     'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'js/models/notification', 'string_utils'],
-function(Backbone, $, FileUploaderView, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, NotificationModel) {
+function(Backbone, $, sinon, FileUploaderView, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, NotificationModel) {
     describe('FileUploaderView', function() {
         var verifyTitle, verifyInputLabel, verifyInputTip, verifySubmitButton, verifyExtensions, verifyText,
             verifyFileUploadOption, verifyNotificationMessage, verifySubmitButtonEnabled, mimicUpload,
-            respondWithSuccess, respondWithError, fileUploaderView,
+            respondWithSuccess, respondWithError, fileUploaderView, requests, xhrFactory,
             url = 'http://test_url/';
 
         verifyText = function(css, expectedText) {
@@ -45,9 +45,7 @@ function(Backbone, $, FileUploaderView, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Notificati
             verifyText('.file-upload-form-result .message-' + type + ' .message-title', expectedMessage);
         };
 
-        mimicUpload = function(test) {
-            var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(test);
-
+        mimicUpload = function() {
             var param = {files: [{name: 'upload_file.txt'}]};
             fileUploaderView.$('#file-upload-form').fileupload('add', param);
             verifySubmitButtonEnabled(true);
@@ -55,7 +53,6 @@ function(Backbone, $, FileUploaderView, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Notificati
 
             // No file will actually be uploaded because "uploaded_file.txt" doesn't actually exist.
             AjaxHelpers.expectRequest(requests, 'POST', url, new FormData());
-            return requests;
         };
 
         respondWithSuccess = function(requests) {
@@ -75,6 +72,15 @@ function(Backbone, $, FileUploaderView, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Notificati
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/file-upload');
             TemplateHelpers.installTemplate('templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/notification');
             fileUploaderView = new FileUploaderView({url: url}).render();
+            xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+            requests = [];
+            requests.currentIndex = 0;
+            requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+            xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+        });
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+            requests.restore();
         });
 
         it('has default values', function() {
@@ -115,7 +121,7 @@ function(Backbone, $, FileUploaderView, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Notificati
         });
 
         it('handles errors with default message', function() {
-            var requests = mimicUpload(this);
+            mimicUpload();
             respondWithError(requests);
             verifyNotificationMessage("Your upload of 'upload_file.txt' failed.", 'error');
         });
@@ -131,19 +137,19 @@ function(Backbone, $, FileUploaderView, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Notificati
                     });
                 }
             }).render();
-            var requests = mimicUpload(this);
+            mimicUpload();
             respondWithError(requests, 'server error');
             verifyNotificationMessage("Custom error for 'upload_file.txt'", 'customized');
         });
 
         it('handles server error message', function() {
-            var requests = mimicUpload(this);
+            mimicUpload();
             respondWithError(requests, 'server error');
             verifyNotificationMessage('server error', 'error');
         });
 
         it('handles success with default message', function() {
-            var requests = mimicUpload(this);
+            mimicUpload();
             respondWithSuccess(requests);
             verifyNotificationMessage("Your upload of 'upload_file.txt' succeeded.", 'confirmation');
         });
@@ -159,7 +165,7 @@ function(Backbone, $, FileUploaderView, TemplateHelpers, AjaxHelpers, Notificati
                     });
                 }
             }).render();
-            var requests = mimicUpload(this);
+            mimicUpload();
             respondWithSuccess(requests);
             verifyNotificationMessage("Custom success message for 'upload_file.txt'", 'customized');
         });
diff --git a/lms/static/lms/js/spec/preview/preview_factory_spec.js b/lms/static/lms/js/spec/preview/preview_factory_spec.js
index e87d018fb67d..dcd006fd5475 100644
--- a/lms/static/lms/js/spec/preview/preview_factory_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/lms/js/spec/preview/preview_factory_spec.js
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 define(
     [
+        'sinon',
         'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers',
         'common/js/components/utils/view_utils',
         'lms/js/preview/preview_factory'
     ],
-    function(AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, PreviewFactory) {
+    function(sinon, AjaxHelpers, ViewUtils, PreviewFactory) {
         'use strict';
 
         describe('Preview Factory', function() {
             var showPreview,
                 previewActionSelect,
-                usernameInput;
+                usernameInput,
+                requests, xhrFactory;
 
             showPreview = function(options) {
                 PreviewFactory(options);
@@ -26,6 +28,15 @@ define(
 
             beforeEach(function() {
                 loadFixtures('lms/fixtures/preview/course_preview.html');
+                xhrFactory = sinon.useFakeXMLHttpRequest();
+                requests = [];
+                requests.currentIndex = 0;
+                requests.restore = function() { xhrFactory.restore(); };
+                xhrFactory.onCreate = function(req) { requests.push(req); };
+            });
+
+            afterEach(function() {
+                requests.restore();
             });
 
             it('can render preview for a staff user', function() {
@@ -47,8 +58,7 @@ define(
             });
 
             it('can switch to view as a student', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
+                var reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
                 showPreview({
                     courseId: 'test_course'
                 });
@@ -67,8 +77,7 @@ define(
             });
 
             it('can switch to view as a content group', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
+                var reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
                 showPreview({
                     courseId: 'test_course'
                 });
@@ -89,8 +98,7 @@ define(
             });
 
             it('can switch to masquerade as a specific student', function() {
-                var requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this),
-                    reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
+                var reloadSpy = spyOn(ViewUtils, 'reload');
                 showPreview({
                     courseId: 'test_course'
                 });
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 743dca2ec852..17793c8397c4 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
       "devDependencies": {
         "@edx/stylelint-config-edx": "^2",
         "babel-jest": "^29",
-        "jasmine-core": "2.6.4",
+        "jasmine-core": "2.99.1",
         "jasmine-jquery": "git+https://git@github.com/velesin/jasmine-jquery.git#ebad463d592d3fea00c69f26ea18a930e09c7b58",
         "jest": "^29",
         "karma": "^6.0.0",
@@ -10775,9 +10775,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/jasmine-core": {
-      "version": "2.6.4",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jasmine-core/-/jasmine-core-2.6.4.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-HUYBYi/hlSnCIr8QH9xuDBJUAzSHS0El3HxTomovIQcNxtbNhoOtKwpEZaB/jq3sfW/qyhqwW/VDUtoB2RZ4Tg==",
+      "version": "2.99.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jasmine-core/-/jasmine-core-2.99.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ra97U4qu3OCcIxvN6eg3kyy8bLrID/TgxafSGMMICg3SFx5C/sUfDPpiOh7yoIsHdtjrOVdtT9rieYhqOsh9Ww==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
@@ -16951,6 +16951,7 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-zymm5+u+sCsSWyD9qNaejV3DFvhCKclKdizYaJUuHA83RLjb7nSuGnddCHGv0hk+KY7BMAlsWeK4Ueg6EV6XQg==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=8"
       }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 749c937f7ecb..bcfb2b964005 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
   "devDependencies": {
     "@edx/stylelint-config-edx": "^2",
     "babel-jest": "^29",
-    "jasmine-core": "2.6.4",
+    "jasmine-core": "2.99.1",
     "jasmine-jquery": "git+https://git@github.com/velesin/jasmine-jquery.git#ebad463d592d3fea00c69f26ea18a930e09c7b58",
     "jest": "^29",
     "karma": "^6.0.0",
diff --git a/xmodule/js/spec/capa/display_spec.js b/xmodule/js/spec/capa/display_spec.js
index f55106f31758..f44d3c185168 100644
--- a/xmodule/js/spec/capa/display_spec.js
+++ b/xmodule/js/spec/capa/display_spec.js
@@ -994,6 +994,15 @@ data-url='/problem/quiz/'> \
   describe("refreshMath", function () {
     beforeEach(function () {
       this.problem = new Problem($(".xblock-student_view"));
+      // Reset Queue spy so that bind()'s Queue call ([fn, null, domEl]) is not
+      // included when toHaveBeenCalledWith scans recorded calls. In Jasmine 2.99,
+      // toHaveBeenCalledWith iterates ALL recorded calls' args element-by-element
+      // (even mismatched ones, for diff output). jasmine-jquery's custom equality
+      // tester calls $(domEl).is(anyString) when comparing a DOM node against a
+      // string — which throws a Sizzle syntax error if the string isn't a valid
+      // CSS selector (e.g. "E=mc^2"). Resetting here isolates this describe to
+      // testing only what refreshMath itself queues.
+      MathJax.Hub.Queue.calls.reset();
       $("#input_example_1").val("E=mc^2");
       this.problem.refreshMath({ target: $("#input_example_1").get(0) });
     });