diff --git a/question/format/aiken/format.php b/question/format/aiken/format.php
index ce358124de4..ab76310b157 100644
--- a/question/format/aiken/format.php
+++ b/question/format/aiken/format.php
@@ -86,8 +86,7 @@ class qformat_aiken extends qformat_default {
                     }
 
                     // A choice. Trim off the label and space, then save.
-                    $question->answer[] = $this->text_field(
-                            htmlspecialchars(trim(substr($nowline, 2)), ENT_NOQUOTES));
+                    $question->answer[] = $this->text_field(substr($nowline, 2));
                     $question->fraction[] = 0;
                     $question->feedback[] = $this->text_field('');
                 } else if (preg_match('/^ANSWER:/', $nowline)) {
diff --git a/question/format/aiken/tests/aikenformat_test.php b/question/format/aiken/tests/aikenformat_test.php
index 7f5d2bc70d9..9f8fc0538c9 100644
--- a/question/format/aiken/tests/aikenformat_test.php
+++ b/question/format/aiken/tests/aikenformat_test.php
@@ -59,16 +59,19 @@ class aikenformat_test extends question_testcase {
         $this->assertStringContainsString('Error importing question A question started but not finished', $output);
         $this->assertStringContainsString('Question not completed before next question start on line 18', $output);
 
-        // There are two expected questions.
-        $this->assertCount(2, $questions);
+        // There are three expected questions.
+        $this->assertCount(3, $questions);
 
         $q1 = null;
         $q2 = null;
+        $q3 = null;
         foreach ($questions as $question) {
             if ($question->name === 'A good question') {
                 $q1 = $question;
             } else if ($question->name === 'A second good question') {
                 $q2 = $question;
+            } else if ($question->name === 'A third good question with HTML chars such as > < &') {
+                $q3 = $question;
             }
         }
 
@@ -83,5 +86,11 @@ class aikenformat_test extends question_testcase {
         $this->assertEquals(1, $q2->fraction[1]);
         $this->assertEquals('Incorrect (No space)', $q2->answer[0]['text']);
         $this->assertEquals('Correct (No space)', $q2->answer[1]['text']);
+
+        // Check the third good question that has anwsers with special HTML chars such as <, >, and &.
+        $this->assertCount(2, $q3->answer);
+        $this->assertEquals(1, $q3->fraction[0]);
+        $this->assertEquals('Correct (&lt; &gt; &amp;)', $q3->answer[0]['text']);
+        $this->assertEquals('Incorrect (&lt; &gt; &amp;)', $q3->answer[1]['text']);
     }
 }
diff --git a/question/format/aiken/tests/fixtures/aiken_errors.txt b/question/format/aiken/tests/fixtures/aiken_errors.txt
index 92e6138aea1..21afe591c09 100644
--- a/question/format/aiken/tests/fixtures/aiken_errors.txt
+++ b/question/format/aiken/tests/fixtures/aiken_errors.txt
@@ -18,4 +18,9 @@ B) Incorrect-ish
 A second good question
 A)Incorrect (No space)
 B)Correct (No space)
-ANSWER: B
\ No newline at end of file
+ANSWER: B
+
+A third good question with HTML chars such as > < &
+A) Correct (< > &)
+B) Incorrect (< > &)
+ANSWER: A
\ No newline at end of file