diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/utils.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/utils.py
index 87975ce395..dfc7c3b233 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/utils.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/utils.py
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ class CourseTestCase(ProceduralCourseTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
         client = AjaxEnabledTestClient()
         if authenticate:
             client.login(username=nonstaff.username, password=password)
-        nonstaff.is_authenticated = lambda: authenticate
         return client, nonstaff
 
     def reload_course(self):
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_authz.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_authz.py
index 2395d58e07..048ec34c5f 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_authz.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_authz.py
@@ -113,8 +113,9 @@ class CreatorGroupTest(TestCase):
 
     def test_add_user_to_group_requires_authenticated(self):
         with self.assertRaises(PermissionDenied):
-            self.admin.is_authenticated = mock.Mock(return_value=False)
-            add_users(self.admin, CourseCreatorRole(), self.user)
+            with mock.patch('django.contrib.auth.models.User.is_authenticated') as mock_is_auth:
+                mock_is_auth.return_value = False
+                add_users(self.admin, CourseCreatorRole(), self.user)
 
     def test_remove_user_from_group_requires_staff_access(self):
         with self.assertRaises(PermissionDenied):
@@ -128,8 +129,9 @@ class CreatorGroupTest(TestCase):
 
     def test_remove_user_from_group_requires_authenticated(self):
         with self.assertRaises(PermissionDenied):
-            self.admin.is_authenticated = mock.Mock(return_value=False)
-            remove_users(self.admin, CourseCreatorRole(), self.user)
+            with mock.patch('django.contrib.auth.models.User.is_authenticated') as mock_is_auth:
+                mock_is_auth.return_value = False
+                remove_users(self.admin, CourseCreatorRole(), self.user)
 
 
 class CCXCourseGroupTest(TestCase):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py
index f7d8a8fd08..00825797b1 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ Test cases for tabs.
 """
 
 import pytest
+from django.contrib.auth.models import AnonymousUser
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.http import Http404
 from milestones.tests.utils import MilestonesTestCaseMixin
@@ -57,13 +58,12 @@ class TabTestCase(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
         super(TabTestCase, self).setUp()
         self.reverse = lambda name, args: "name/{0}/args/{1}".format(name, ",".join(str(a) for a in args))
 
-    def create_mock_user(self, is_authenticated=True, is_staff=True, is_enrolled=True):
+    def create_mock_user(self, is_staff=True, is_enrolled=True):
         """
         Creates a mock user with the specified properties.
         """
         user = UserFactory(is_staff=is_staff)
         user.is_enrolled = is_enrolled
-        user.is_authenticated = lambda: is_authenticated
         return user
 
     def is_tab_enabled(self, tab, course, user):
@@ -155,16 +155,17 @@ class TabTestCase(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     ):
         """Checks can display results for various users"""
         if for_staff_only:
-            user = self.create_mock_user(is_authenticated=True, is_staff=True, is_enrolled=True)
+            user = self.create_mock_user(is_staff=True, is_enrolled=True)
             self.assertEquals(expected_value, self.is_tab_enabled(tab, self.course, user))
         if for_authenticated_users_only:
-            user = self.create_mock_user(is_authenticated=True, is_staff=False, is_enrolled=False)
+            user = self.create_mock_user(is_staff=False, is_enrolled=False)
             self.assertEquals(expected_value, self.is_tab_enabled(tab, self.course, user))
+            assert False
         if not for_staff_only and not for_authenticated_users_only and not for_enrolled_users_only:
-            user = self.create_mock_user(is_authenticated=False, is_staff=False, is_enrolled=False)
+            user = AnonymousUser()
             self.assertEquals(expected_value, self.is_tab_enabled(tab, self.course, user))
         if for_enrolled_users_only:
-            user = self.create_mock_user(is_authenticated=True, is_staff=False, is_enrolled=True)
+            user = self.create_mock_user(is_staff=False, is_enrolled=True)
             self.assertEquals(expected_value, self.is_tab_enabled(tab, self.course, user))
 
     def check_get_and_set_methods(self, tab):
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ class TextbooksTestCase(TabTestCase):
         type_to_reverse_name = {'textbook': 'book', 'pdftextbook': 'pdf_book', 'htmltextbook': 'html_book'}
 
         num_textbooks_found = 0
-        user = self.create_mock_user(is_authenticated=True, is_staff=False, is_enrolled=True)
+        user = self.create_mock_user(is_staff=False, is_enrolled=True)
         for tab in xmodule_tabs.CourseTabList.iterate_displayable(self.course, user=user):
             # verify all textbook type tabs
             if tab.type == 'single_textbook':
@@ -704,7 +705,7 @@ class CourseTabListTestCase(TabListTestCase):
                                                             course_staff_only=True))
         self.course.save()
 
-        user = self.create_mock_user(is_authenticated=True, is_staff=False, is_enrolled=True)
+        user = self.create_mock_user(is_staff=False, is_enrolled=True)
         request = get_mock_request(user)
         course_tab_list = get_course_tab_list(request, self.course)
         name_list = [x.name for x in course_tab_list]
@@ -837,7 +838,7 @@ class DiscussionLinkTestCase(TabTestCase):
         self.course.tabs = tab_list
         self.course.discussion_link = discussion_link_in_course
         discussion_tab = xmodule_tabs.CourseTabList.get_discussion(self.course)
-        user = self.create_mock_user(is_authenticated=True, is_staff=is_staff, is_enrolled=is_enrolled)
+        user = self.create_mock_user(is_staff=is_staff, is_enrolled=is_enrolled)
         with patch('student.models.CourseEnrollment.is_enrolled') as check_is_enrolled:
             check_is_enrolled.return_value = is_enrolled
             self.assertEquals(
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/lti_provider/tests/test_users.py b/lms/djangoapps/lti_provider/tests/test_users.py
index ca8f5364b4..0865efa99e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/lti_provider/tests/test_users.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/lti_provider/tests/test_users.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class AuthenticateLtiUserTest(TestCase):
     def test_authentication_with_authenticated_user(self, create_user, switch_user):
         lti_user = self.create_lti_user_model()
         self.request.user = lti_user.edx_user
-        self.request.user.is_authenticated = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+        assert self.request.user.is_authenticated()
         users.authenticate_lti_user(self.request, self.lti_user_id, self.lti_consumer)
         self.assertFalse(create_user.called)
         self.assertFalse(switch_user.called)
@@ -124,15 +124,16 @@ class AuthenticateLtiUserTest(TestCase):
     def test_authentication_with_unauthenticated_user(self, create_user, switch_user):
         lti_user = self.create_lti_user_model()
         self.request.user = lti_user.edx_user
-        self.request.user.is_authenticated = MagicMock(return_value=False)
-        users.authenticate_lti_user(self.request, self.lti_user_id, self.lti_consumer)
-        self.assertFalse(create_user.called)
-        switch_user.assert_called_with(self.request, lti_user, self.lti_consumer)
+        with patch('django.contrib.auth.models.User.is_authenticated') as mock_is_auth:
+            mock_is_auth.return_value = False
+            users.authenticate_lti_user(self.request, self.lti_user_id, self.lti_consumer)
+            self.assertFalse(create_user.called)
+            switch_user.assert_called_with(self.request, lti_user, self.lti_consumer)
 
     def test_authentication_with_wrong_user(self, create_user, switch_user):
         lti_user = self.create_lti_user_model()
         self.request.user = self.old_user
-        self.request.user.is_authenticated = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+        assert self.request.user.is_authenticated()
         users.authenticate_lti_user(self.request, self.lti_user_id, self.lti_consumer)
         self.assertFalse(create_user.called)
         switch_user.assert_called_with(self.request, lti_user, self.lti_consumer)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/lti_provider/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/lti_provider/tests/test_views.py
index a8a1ee7902..482dc866f6 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/lti_provider/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/lti_provider/tests/test_views.py
@@ -45,13 +45,12 @@ COURSE_PARAMS = {
 ALL_PARAMS = dict(LTI_DEFAULT_PARAMS.items() + COURSE_PARAMS.items())
 
 
-def build_launch_request(authenticated=True):
+def build_launch_request():
     """
     Helper method to create a new request object for the LTI launch.
     """
     request = RequestFactory().post('/')
     request.user = UserFactory.create()
-    request.user.is_authenticated = MagicMock(return_value=authenticated)
     request.session = {}
     request.POST.update(LTI_DEFAULT_PARAMS)
     return request