diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/combined_open_ended_modulev1.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/combined_open_ended_modulev1.py
index bf6c51ac15..0e3bd86581 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/combined_open_ended_modulev1.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/combined_open_ended_modulev1.py
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ HUMAN_TASK_TYPE = {
     'openended' : "edX Assessment",
     }
 
+#Default value that controls whether or not to skip basic spelling checks in the controller
+#Metadata overrides this
+SKIP_BASIC_CHECKS = False
+
 class CombinedOpenEndedV1Module():
     """
     This is a module that encapsulates all open ended grading (self assessment, peer assessment, etc).
@@ -142,6 +146,7 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedV1Module():
         self.max_attempts = int(self.metadata.get('attempts', MAX_ATTEMPTS))
         self.is_scored = self.metadata.get('is_graded', IS_SCORED) in TRUE_DICT
         self.accept_file_upload = self.metadata.get('accept_file_upload', ACCEPT_FILE_UPLOAD) in TRUE_DICT
+        self.skip_basic_checks = self.metadata.get('skip_spelling_checks', SKIP_BASIC_CHECKS)
 
         display_due_date_string = self.metadata.get('due', None)
         grace_period_string = self.metadata.get('graceperiod', None)
@@ -170,6 +175,7 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedV1Module():
             'accept_file_upload': self.accept_file_upload,
             'close_date' : self.timeinfo.close_date,
             's3_interface' : self.system.s3_interface,
+            'skip_basic_checks' : self.skip_basic_checks,
             }
 
         self.task_xml = definition['task_xml']
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/open_ended_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/open_ended_module.py
index 54db1b6557..95c631c8fd 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/open_ended_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/open_ended_module.py
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ class OpenEndedModule(openendedchild.OpenEndedChild):
             'rubric': rubric_string,
             'initial_display': self.initial_display,
             'answer': self.answer,
-            'problem_id': self.display_name
+            'problem_id': self.display_name,
+            'skip_basic_checks': self.skip_basic_checks,
         })
         updated_grader_payload = json.dumps(parsed_grader_payload)
 
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/openendedchild.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/openendedchild.py
index ba8a74cc31..1700dcaa07 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/openendedchild.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_grading_classes/openendedchild.py
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ class OpenEndedChild(object):
         self.accept_file_upload = static_data['accept_file_upload']
         self.close_date = static_data['close_date']
         self.s3_interface = static_data['s3_interface']
+        self.skip_basic_checks = static_data['skip_basic_checks']
 
         # Used for progress / grading.  Currently get credit just for
         # completion (doesn't matter if you self-assessed correct/incorrect).
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_combined_open_ended.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_combined_open_ended.py
index ef6344eb57..5f6496f823 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_combined_open_ended.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_combined_open_ended.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class OpenEndedChildTest(unittest.TestCase):
             'close_date': None,
             's3_interface' : "",
             'open_ended_grading_interface' : {},
+            'skip_basic_checks' : False,
             }
     definition = Mock()
     descriptor = Mock()
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ class OpenEndedModuleTest(unittest.TestCase):
             'close_date': None,
             's3_interface' : test_util_open_ended.S3_INTERFACE,
             'open_ended_grading_interface' : test_util_open_ended.OPEN_ENDED_GRADING_INTERFACE,
+            'skip_basic_checks' : False,
             }
 
     oeparam = etree.XML('''
@@ -301,6 +303,7 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedModuleTest(unittest.TestCase):
             'close_date' : "",
             's3_interface' : test_util_open_ended.S3_INTERFACE,
             'open_ended_grading_interface' : test_util_open_ended.OPEN_ENDED_GRADING_INTERFACE,
+            'skip_basic_checks' : False,
             }
 
     oeparam = etree.XML('''
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_self_assessment.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_self_assessment.py
index fe55c88e82..83f6c0a8bc 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_self_assessment.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_self_assessment.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class SelfAssessmentTest(unittest.TestCase):
                 'close_date': None,
                 's3_interface' : test_util_open_ended.S3_INTERFACE,
                 'open_ended_grading_interface' : test_util_open_ended.OPEN_ENDED_GRADING_INTERFACE,
+                'skip_basic_checks' : False,
                 }
 
         self.module = SelfAssessmentModule(test_system, self.location,