diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_rubric.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_rubric.py
index a9fd027ddf..4861a15dbc 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_rubric.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_rubric.py
@@ -10,6 +10,15 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedRubric:
         self.has_score = False
         self.view_only = view_only
 
+    '''
+    render_rubric: takes in an xml string and outputs the corresponding
+        html for that xml, given the type of rubric we're generating
+    Input:
+        rubric_xml: an string that has not been parsed into xml that
+            represents this particular rubric
+    Output:
+        html: the html that corresponds to the xml given
+    '''
     def render_rubric(self, rubric_xml):
         try:
             rubric_categories = self.extract_categories(rubric_xml)
@@ -34,11 +43,9 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedRubric:
                          {text: "Option 3 Name", points: 2]}]
 
         '''
-        if element.tag != 'rubric':
-            raise Exception("[extract_categories] Expected a <rubric> tag: got {0} instead".format(element.tag))
-        categorylist = list(element)
+        element = etree.fromstring(element)
         categories = []
-        for category in categorylist:
+        for category in element:
             if category.tag != 'category':
                 raise Exception("[extract_categories] Expected a <category> tag: got {0} instead".format(category.tag))
             else:
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_module.py
index 11f96c9848..4033d140dd 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_module.py
@@ -382,7 +382,8 @@ class OpenEndedModule(openendedchild.OpenEndedChild):
         rubric_feedback=""
         feedback = self._convert_longform_feedback_to_html(response_items)
         if response_items['rubric_scores_complete']==True:
-            rubric_feedback = CombinedOpenEndedRubric.render_rubric(response_items['rubric_xml'])
+            rubric_renderer = CombinedOpenEndedRubric(True)
+            rubric_feedback = rubric_renderer.render_rubric(response_items['rubric_xml'])
 
         if not response_items['success']:
             return system.render_template("open_ended_error.html",
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/self_assessment_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/self_assessment_module.py
index 940b61c557..4a7e86e134 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/self_assessment_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/self_assessment_module.py
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ class SelfAssessmentModule(openendedchild.OpenEndedChild):
         if self.state == self.INITIAL:
             return ''
 
-        rubric_html  = CombinedOpenEndedRubric.render_rubric(self.rubric)
+        rubric_renderer = CombinedOpenEndedRubric(True)
+
+        rubric_html  = rubric_renderer.render_rubric(self.rubric)
 
         # we'll render it
         context = {'rubric': rubric_html,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/staff_grading_service.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/staff_grading_service.py
index feb5add72e..c684fa1d95 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/staff_grading_service.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/staff_grading_service.py
@@ -264,8 +264,7 @@ def _get_next(course_id, grader_id, location):
         response_json = json.loads(response)
         rubric = response_json['rubric']
         rubric_renderer = CombinedOpenEndedRubric(False)
-        rubric_xml = etree.XML(rubric)
-        rubric_html = rubric_renderer.render_rubric(rubric_xml)
+        rubric_html = rubric_renderer.render_rubric(rubric)
         response_json['rubric'] = rubric_html
         return json.dumps(response_json)
     except GradingServiceError: