diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/peer_grading_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/peer_grading_module.py
index 5bb6c8f879..e853160f4a 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/peer_grading_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/peer_grading_module.py
@@ -384,12 +384,12 @@ class PeerGradingModule(XModule):
             return self._err_response(message)
         grader_id = self.system.anonymous_student_id
 
-        location = get['location']
-        calibration_essay_id = get['submission_id']
-        submission_key = get['submission_key']
-        score = get['score']
-        feedback = get['feedback']
-        rubric_scores = get['rubric_scores[]']
+        location = get.get('location')
+        calibration_essay_id = get.get('submission_id')
+        submission_key = get.get('submission_key')
+        score = get.get('score')
+        feedback = get.get('feedback')
+        rubric_scores = get.getlist('rubric_scores[]')
 
         try:
             response = self.peer_gs.save_calibration_essay(location, grader_id, calibration_essay_id,
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/peer_grading_service.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/peer_grading_service.py
index 542a8fc861..a6876bf86b 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/peer_grading_service.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/peer_grading_service.py
@@ -39,12 +39,12 @@ class PeerGradingService(GradingService):
     def get_data_for_location(self, problem_location, student_id):
         response = self.get(self.get_data_for_location_url,
             {'location': problem_location, 'student_id': student_id})
-        return response
+        return self.try_to_decode(response)
 
     def get_next_submission(self, problem_location, grader_id):
         response = self.get(self.get_next_submission_url,
             {'location': problem_location, 'grader_id': grader_id})
-        return self._render_rubric(response)
+        return self.try_to_decode(self._render_rubric(response))
 
     def save_grade(self, location, grader_id, submission_id, score, feedback, submission_key, rubric_scores, submission_flagged):
         data = {'grader_id' : grader_id,
@@ -56,16 +56,16 @@ class PeerGradingService(GradingService):
                 'rubric_scores': rubric_scores,
                 'rubric_scores_complete': True,
                 'submission_flagged' : submission_flagged}
-        return self.post(self.save_grade_url, data)
+        return self.try_to_decode(self.post(self.save_grade_url, data))
 
     def is_student_calibrated(self, problem_location, grader_id):
         params = {'problem_id' : problem_location, 'student_id': grader_id}
-        return self.get(self.is_student_calibrated_url, params)
+        return self.try_to_decode(self.get(self.is_student_calibrated_url, params))
 
     def show_calibration_essay(self, problem_location, grader_id):
         params = {'problem_id' : problem_location, 'student_id': grader_id}
         response = self.get(self.show_calibration_essay_url, params)
-        return self._render_rubric(response)
+        return self.try_to_decode(self._render_rubric(response))
 
     def save_calibration_essay(self, problem_location, grader_id, calibration_essay_id, submission_key,
                                score, feedback, rubric_scores):
@@ -77,17 +77,17 @@ class PeerGradingService(GradingService):
                 'feedback': feedback,
                 'rubric_scores[]': rubric_scores,
                 'rubric_scores_complete': True}
-        return self.post(self.save_calibration_essay_url, data)
+        return self.try_to_decode(self.post(self.save_calibration_essay_url, data))
 
     def get_problem_list(self, course_id, grader_id):
         params = {'course_id': course_id, 'student_id': grader_id}
         response = self.get(self.get_problem_list_url, params)
-        return response
+        return self.try_to_decode(response)
 
     def get_notifications(self, course_id, grader_id):
         params = {'course_id': course_id, 'student_id': grader_id}
         response = self.get(self.get_notifications_url, params)
-        return response
+        return self.try_to_decode(response)
 
     def _login(self):
         """
@@ -113,47 +113,6 @@ class PeerGradingService(GradingService):
 
         return text
 
-    def post(self, url, data, allow_redirects=False):
-        """
-        Make a post request to the grading controller
-        """
-        try:
-            op = lambda: self.session.post(url, data=data,
-                allow_redirects=allow_redirects)
-            r = self._try_with_login(op)
-        except (RequestException, ConnectionError, HTTPError) as err:
-            # reraise as promised GradingServiceError, but preserve stacktrace.
-            raise GradingServiceError, str(err), sys.exc_info()[2]
-
-        text = r.text
-        try:
-            text= json.loads(text)
-        except:
-            pass
-
-        return text
-
-    def get(self, url, params, allow_redirects=False):
-        """
-        Make a get request to the grading controller
-        """
-        op = lambda: self.session.get(url,
-            allow_redirects=allow_redirects,
-            params=params)
-        try:
-            r = self._try_with_login(op)
-        except (RequestException, ConnectionError, HTTPError) as err:
-            # reraise as promised GradingServiceError, but preserve stacktrace.
-            raise GradingServiceError, str(err), sys.exc_info()[2]
-
-        text = r.text
-        try:
-            text= json.loads(text)
-        except:
-            pass
-
-        return text
-
 
     def _try_with_login(self, operation):
         """
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/tests.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/tests.py
index 2714c8aa3a..f88b10220f 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/tests.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/tests.py
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
         self.assertEqual(d['error'], "Missing required keys: location")
 
     def test_save_grade_success(self):
-        data = 'rubric_scores[]=1|rubric_scores[]=2|location=' + location + '|submission_id=1|submission_key=fake key|score=2|feedback=feedback|submission_flagged=False'
+        data = 'rubric_scores[]=1|rubric_scores[]=2|location=' + self.location + '|submission_id=1|submission_key=fake key|score=2|feedback=feedback|submission_flagged=False'
         qdict = QueryDict(data.replace("|","&"))
         r = self.peer_module.save_grade(qdict)
         d = r
@@ -203,6 +203,8 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
 
         r = self.peer_module.show_calibration_essay(data)
         d = r
+        log.debug(d)
+        log.debug(type(d))
         self.assertTrue(d['success'])
         self.assertIsNotNone(d['submission_id'])
         self.assertIsNotNone(d['prompt'])
@@ -219,13 +221,9 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
         self.assertEqual(d['error'], "Missing required keys: location")
 
     def test_save_calibration_essay_success(self):
-        data = {'location': self.location, 
-                'submission_id': '1', 
-                'submission_key': 'fake key', 
-                'score': '2',
-                'feedback': 'This is feedback',
-                'rubric_scores[]': [1, 2]}
-        r = self.peer_module.save_calibration_essay(data)
+        data = 'rubric_scores[]=1|rubric_scores[]=2|location=' + self.location + '|submission_id=1|submission_key=fake key|score=2|feedback=feedback|submission_flagged=False'
+        qdict = QueryDict(data.replace("|","&"))
+        r = self.peer_module.save_calibration_essay(qdict)
         d = r
         self.assertTrue(d['success'])
         self.assertTrue('actual_score' in d)