diff --git a/actionpack/CHANGELOG.md b/actionpack/CHANGELOG.md
index aeb961decc..89395f5b52 100644
--- a/actionpack/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/actionpack/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,16 @@
+*   Migrating xhr methods to keyword arguments syntax
+    in `ActionController::TestCase` and `ActionDispatch::Integration`
+
+    Old syntax:
+
+        xhr :get, :create, params: { id: 1 }
+
+    New syntax example:
+
+        get :create, params: { id: 1 }, xhr: true
+
+    *Kir Shatrov*
+
 *   Migrating to keyword arguments syntax in `ActionController::TestCase` and
     `ActionDispatch::Integration` HTTP request methods
 
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
index 15e587bcea..a15a4bfab1 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
@@ -546,8 +546,13 @@ module ActionController
       end
 
       def xml_http_request(*args)
+        ActiveSupport::Deprecation.warn(<<-MSG.strip_heredoc)
+          xhr and xml_http_request methods are deprecated in favor of
+          `get :index, xhr: true` and `post :create, xhr: true`
+        MSG
+
         @request.env['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'] = 'XMLHttpRequest'
-        @request.env['HTTP_ACCEPT'] ||=  [Mime::JS, Mime::HTML, Mime::XML, 'text/xml', Mime::ALL].join(', ')
+        @request.env['HTTP_ACCEPT'] ||= [Mime::JS, Mime::HTML, Mime::XML, 'text/xml', Mime::ALL].join(', ')
         __send__(*args).tap do
           @request.env.delete 'HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'
           @request.env.delete 'HTTP_ACCEPT'
@@ -599,7 +604,7 @@ module ActionController
         check_required_ivars
 
         if kwarg_request?(*args)
-          parameters, session, body, flash, http_method, format = args[0].values_at(:params, :session, :body, :flash, :method, :format)
+          parameters, session, body, flash, http_method, format, xhr = args[0].values_at(:params, :session, :body, :flash, :method, :format, :xhr)
         else
           http_method, parameters, session, flash = args
           format = nil
@@ -655,6 +660,11 @@ module ActionController
         @request.session.update(session) if session
         @request.flash.update(flash || {})
 
+        if xhr
+          @request.env['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'] = 'XMLHttpRequest'
+          @request.env['HTTP_ACCEPT'] ||= [Mime::JS, Mime::HTML, Mime::XML, 'text/xml', Mime::ALL].join(', ')
+        end
+
         @controller.request  = @request
         @controller.response = @response
 
@@ -678,6 +688,11 @@ module ActionController
           @request.session['flash'] = flash_value
         end
 
+        if xhr
+          @request.env.delete 'HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'
+          @request.env.delete 'HTTP_ACCEPT'
+        end
+
         @response
       end
 
@@ -738,7 +753,7 @@ module ActionController
         end
       end
 
-      REQUEST_KWARGS = %i(params session flash method body)
+      REQUEST_KWARGS = %i(params session flash method body xhr)
       def kwarg_request?(*args)
         args[0].respond_to?(:keys) && (
           (args[0].key?(:format) && args[0].keys.size == 1) ||
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/integration.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/integration.rb
index db6233840a..876a980ff1 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/integration.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/integration.rb
@@ -92,11 +92,12 @@ module ActionDispatch
           end
         end
 
-        headers ||= {}
-        headers.merge!(env) if env
-        headers['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'] = 'XMLHttpRequest'
-        headers['HTTP_ACCEPT'] ||= [Mime::JS, Mime::HTML, Mime::XML, 'text/xml', Mime::ALL].join(', ')
-        process(request_method, path, params: params, headers: headers)
+        ActiveSupport::Deprecation.warn(<<-MSG.strip_heredoc)
+          xhr and xml_http_request methods are deprecated in favor of
+          `get "/posts", xhr: true` and `post "/posts/1", xhr: true`
+        MSG
+
+        process(request_method, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
       end
       alias xhr :xml_http_request
 
@@ -306,7 +307,7 @@ module ActionDispatch
           end
         end
 
-        REQUEST_KWARGS = %i(params headers env)
+        REQUEST_KWARGS = %i(params headers env xhr)
         def kwarg_request?(*args)
           args[0].respond_to?(:keys) && args[0].keys.any? { |k| REQUEST_KWARGS.include?(k) }
         end
@@ -329,7 +330,7 @@ module ActionDispatch
         end
 
         # Performs the actual request.
-        def process(method, path, params: nil, headers: nil, env: nil)
+        def process(method, path, params: nil, headers: nil, env: nil, xhr: false)
           if path =~ %r{://}
             location = URI.parse(path)
             https! URI::HTTPS === location if location.scheme
@@ -354,6 +355,13 @@ module ActionDispatch
             "CONTENT_TYPE"   => "application/x-www-form-urlencoded",
             "HTTP_ACCEPT"    => accept
           }
+
+          if xhr
+            headers ||= {}
+            headers['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'] = 'XMLHttpRequest'
+            headers['HTTP_ACCEPT'] ||= [Mime::JS, Mime::HTML, Mime::XML, 'text/xml', Mime::ALL].join(', ')
+          end
+
           # this modifies the passed request_env directly
           if headers.present?
             Http::Headers.new(request_env).merge!(headers)
@@ -377,7 +385,7 @@ module ActionDispatch
 
           @controller = session.last_request.env['action_controller.instance']
 
-          return response.status
+          response.status
         end
 
         def build_full_uri(path, env)
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/integration_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/integration_test.rb
index 2139cf2661..ec9f50ca2b 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/integration_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/integration_test.rb
@@ -195,133 +195,112 @@ class SessionTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
 
   def test_xml_http_request_get
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:get, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    @session.xml_http_request(:get, path, params: params, headers: headers)
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:get, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.get(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
   end
 
   def test_deprecated_xml_http_request_get
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:get, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    assert_deprecated {
-      @session.xml_http_request(:get,path,params,headers)
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:get, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.get(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+  end
+
+  def test_deprecated_args_xml_http_request_get
+    path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:get, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    assert_deprecated(/xml_http_request/) {
+      @session.xml_http_request(:get, path, params, headers)
     }
   end
 
   def test_xml_http_request_post
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:post, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    @session.xml_http_request(:post, path, params: params, headers: headers)
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:post, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.post(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
   end
 
   def test_deprecated_xml_http_request_post
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:post, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    assert_deprecated { @session.xml_http_request(:post,path,params,headers) }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:post, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.post(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+  end
+
+  def test_deprecated_args_xml_http_request_post
+    path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:post, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    assert_deprecated(/xml_http_request/) { @session.xml_http_request(:post,path,params,headers) }
   end
 
   def test_xml_http_request_patch
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:patch, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    @session.xml_http_request(:patch, path, params: params, headers: headers)
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:patch, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.patch(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
   end
 
   def test_deprecated_xml_http_request_patch
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:patch, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    assert_deprecated { @session.xml_http_request(:patch,path,params,headers) }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:patch, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.patch(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+  end
+
+  def test_deprecated_args_xml_http_request_patch
+    path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:patch, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    assert_deprecated(/xml_http_request/) { @session.xml_http_request(:patch,path,params,headers) }
   end
 
   def test_xml_http_request_put
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:put, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    @session.xml_http_request(:put, path, params: params, headers: headers)
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:put, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.put(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
   end
 
   def test_deprecated_xml_http_request_put
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:put, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    assert_deprecated { @session.xml_http_request(:put, path, params, headers) }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:put, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.put(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+  end
+
+  def test_deprecated_args_xml_http_request_put
+    path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:put, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    assert_deprecated(/xml_http_request/) { @session.xml_http_request(:put, path, params, headers) }
   end
 
   def test_xml_http_request_delete
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:delete, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    @session.xml_http_request(:delete, path, params: params, headers: headers)
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:delete, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.delete(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
   end
 
   def test_deprecated_xml_http_request_delete
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:delete, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    assert_deprecated { @session.xml_http_request(:delete, path, params, headers) }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:delete, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    assert_deprecated { @session.xml_http_request(:delete, path, params: params, headers: headers) }
+  end
+
+  def test_deprecated_args_xml_http_request_delete
+    path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:delete, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    assert_deprecated(/xml_http_request/) { @session.xml_http_request(:delete, path, params, headers) }
   end
 
   def test_xml_http_request_head
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:head, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    @session.xml_http_request(:head, path, params: params, headers: headers)
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:head, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    @session.head(path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
   end
 
   def test_deprecated_xml_http_request_head
     path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest",
-      "HTTP_ACCEPT"           => "text/javascript, text/html, application/xml, text/xml, */*"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:head, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    assert_deprecated { @session.xml_http_request(:head, path, params, headers) }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:head, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    assert_deprecated(/xml_http_request/) { @session.xml_http_request(:head, path, params: params, headers: headers) }
   end
 
-  def test_xml_http_request_override_accept
-    path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = {:location => 'blah', "HTTP_ACCEPT" => "application/xml"}
-    headers_after_xhr = headers.merge(
-      "HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH" => "XMLHttpRequest"
-    )
-    @session.expects(:process).with(:post, path, params: params, headers: headers_after_xhr)
-    @session.xml_http_request(:post, path, params: params, headers: headers)
+  def test_deprecated_args_xml_http_request_head
+    path = "/index"; params = "blah"; headers = { location: 'blah' }
+    @session.expects(:process).with(:head, path, params: params, headers: headers, xhr: true)
+    assert_deprecated { @session.xml_http_request(:head, path, params, headers) }
   end
 end
 
@@ -526,7 +505,19 @@ class IntegrationProcessTest < ActionDispatch::IntegrationTest
 
   def test_xml_http_request_get
     with_test_route_set do
-      xhr :get, '/get'
+      get '/get', xhr: true
+      assert_equal 200, status
+      assert_equal "OK", status_message
+      assert_response 200
+      assert_response :success
+      assert_response :ok
+      assert_equal "JS OK", response.body
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_deprecated_xml_http_request_get
+    with_test_route_set do
+      assert_deprecated { xhr :get, '/get' }
       assert_equal 200, status
       assert_equal "OK", status_message
       assert_response 200
@@ -538,7 +529,7 @@ class IntegrationProcessTest < ActionDispatch::IntegrationTest
 
   def test_request_with_bad_format
     with_test_route_set do
-      xhr :get, '/get.php'
+      get '/get.php', xhr: true
       assert_equal 406, status
       assert_response 406
       assert_response :not_acceptable
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/mime/respond_to_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/mime/respond_to_test.rb
index 8bd32f9584..1f5f66dc80 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/mime/respond_to_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/mime/respond_to_test.rb
@@ -310,17 +310,17 @@ class RespondToControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
 
   def test_js_or_html
     @request.accept = "text/javascript, text/html"
-    xhr :get, :js_or_html
+    get :js_or_html, xhr: true
     assert_equal 'JS', @response.body
 
     @request.accept = "text/javascript, text/html"
-    xhr :get, :html_or_xml
+    get :html_or_xml, xhr: true
     assert_equal 'HTML', @response.body
 
     @request.accept = "text/javascript, text/html"
 
     assert_raises(ActionController::UnknownFormat) do
-      xhr :get, :just_xml
+      get :just_xml, xhr: true
     end
   end
 
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ class RespondToControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_json_or_yaml
-    xhr :get, :json_or_yaml
+    get :json_or_yaml, xhr: true
     assert_equal 'JSON', @response.body
 
     get :json_or_yaml, format: 'json'
@@ -357,13 +357,13 @@ class RespondToControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
 
   def test_js_or_anything
     @request.accept = "text/javascript, */*"
-    xhr :get, :js_or_html
+    get :js_or_html, xhr: true
     assert_equal 'JS', @response.body
 
-    xhr :get, :html_or_xml
+    get :html_or_xml, xhr: true
     assert_equal 'HTML', @response.body
 
-    xhr :get, :just_xml
+    get :just_xml, xhr: true
     assert_equal 'XML', @response.body
   end
 
@@ -408,14 +408,14 @@ class RespondToControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
   def test_with_atom_content_type
     @request.accept = ""
     @request.env["CONTENT_TYPE"] = "application/atom+xml"
-    xhr :get, :made_for_content_type
+    get :made_for_content_type, xhr: true
     assert_equal "ATOM", @response.body
   end
 
   def test_with_rss_content_type
     @request.accept = ""
     @request.env["CONTENT_TYPE"] = "application/rss+xml"
-    xhr :get, :made_for_content_type
+    get :made_for_content_type, xhr: true
     assert_equal "RSS", @response.body
   end
 
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ class RespondToControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_xhr
-    xhr :get, :js_or_html
+    get :js_or_html, xhr: true
     assert_equal 'JS', @response.body
   end
 
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/render_js_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/render_js_test.rb
index d482df195f..6b661de064 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/render_js_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/render_js_test.rb
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ class RenderJSTest < ActionController::TestCase
   tests TestController
 
   def test_render_vanilla_js
-    xhr :get, :render_vanilla_js_hello
+    get :render_vanilla_js_hello, xhr: true
     assert_equal "alert('hello')", @response.body
     assert_equal "text/javascript", @response.content_type
   end
 
   def test_should_render_js_partial
-    xhr :get, :show_partial, format: 'js'
+    get :show_partial, format: 'js', xhr: true
     assert_equal 'partial js', @response.body
   end
 end
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/render_json_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/render_json_test.rb
index ada978aa11..b1ad16bc55 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/render_json_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/render_json_test.rb
@@ -100,13 +100,13 @@ class RenderJsonTest < ActionController::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_render_json_with_callback
-    xhr :get, :render_json_hello_world_with_callback
+    get :render_json_hello_world_with_callback, xhr: true
     assert_equal '/**/alert({"hello":"world"})', @response.body
     assert_equal 'text/javascript', @response.content_type
   end
 
   def test_render_json_with_custom_content_type
-    xhr :get, :render_json_with_custom_content_type
+    get :render_json_with_custom_content_type, xhr: true
     assert_equal '{"hello":"world"}', @response.body
     assert_equal 'text/javascript', @response.content_type
   end
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/request_forgery_protection_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/request_forgery_protection_test.rb
index 8a0eed5a87..88155bb404 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/request_forgery_protection_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/request_forgery_protection_test.rb
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ module RequestForgeryProtectionTests
   end
 
   def test_should_not_allow_xhr_post_without_token
-    assert_blocked { xhr :post, :index }
+    assert_blocked { post :index, xhr: true }
   end
 
   def test_should_allow_post_with_token
@@ -340,11 +340,11 @@ module RequestForgeryProtectionTests
       get :negotiate_same_origin
     end
 
-    assert_cross_origin_not_blocked { xhr :get, :same_origin_js }
-    assert_cross_origin_not_blocked { xhr :get, :same_origin_js, format: 'js'}
+    assert_cross_origin_not_blocked { get :same_origin_js, xhr: true }
+    assert_cross_origin_not_blocked { get :same_origin_js, xhr: true, format: 'js'}
     assert_cross_origin_not_blocked do
       @request.accept = 'text/javascript'
-      xhr :get, :negotiate_same_origin
+      get :negotiate_same_origin, xhr: true
     end
   end
 
@@ -366,11 +366,11 @@ module RequestForgeryProtectionTests
       get :negotiate_cross_origin
     end
 
-    assert_cross_origin_not_blocked { xhr :get, :cross_origin_js }
-    assert_cross_origin_not_blocked { xhr :get, :cross_origin_js, format: 'js' }
+    assert_cross_origin_not_blocked { get :cross_origin_js, xhr: true }
+    assert_cross_origin_not_blocked { get :cross_origin_js, xhr: true, format: 'js' }
     assert_cross_origin_not_blocked do
       @request.accept = 'text/javascript'
-      xhr :get, :negotiate_cross_origin
+      get :negotiate_cross_origin, xhr: true
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/test_case_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/test_case_test.rb
index 901db63e39..02a757ad75 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/test_case_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/test_case_test.rb
@@ -694,19 +694,34 @@ XML
   end
 
   def test_header_properly_reset_after_remote_http_request
-    xhr :get, :test_params
+    get :test_params, xhr: true
     assert_nil @request.env['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH']
     assert_nil @request.env['HTTP_ACCEPT']
   end
 
+  def test_deprecated_xhr_with_params
+    assert_deprecated { xhr :get, :test_params, params: { id: 1 } }
+
+    assert_equal(%({"id"=>"1", "controller"=>"test_case_test/test", "action"=>"test_params"}), @response.body)
+  end
+
   def test_xhr_with_params
-    xhr :get, :test_params, params: { id: 1 }
+    get :test_params, params: { id: 1 }, xhr: true
 
     assert_equal(%({"id"=>"1", "controller"=>"test_case_test/test", "action"=>"test_params"}), @response.body)
   end
 
   def test_xhr_with_session
-    xhr :get, :set_session
+    get :set_session, xhr: true
+
+    assert_equal 'A wonder', session['string'], "A value stored in the session should be available by string key"
+    assert_equal 'A wonder', session[:string], "Test session hash should allow indifferent access"
+    assert_equal 'it works', session['symbol'], "Test session hash should allow indifferent access"
+    assert_equal 'it works', session[:symbol], "Test session hash should allow indifferent access"
+  end
+
+  def test_deprecated_xhr_with_session
+    assert_deprecated { xhr :get, :set_session }
 
     assert_equal 'A wonder', session['string'], "A value stored in the session should be available by string key"
     assert_equal 'A wonder', session[:string], "Test session hash should allow indifferent access"
diff --git a/guides/source/testing.md b/guides/source/testing.md
index a083b3f981..7345c7f522 100644
--- a/guides/source/testing.md
+++ b/guides/source/testing.md
@@ -537,11 +537,11 @@ NOTE: Functional tests do not verify whether the specified request type is accep
 
 ### Testing XHR (AJAX) requests
 
-`xhr` accepts method (listed in the section above), action name and parameters:
+Enable set  `xhr: true` option as an argument to `get/post/patch/put/delete` method:
 
 ```ruby
 test "ajax request responds with no layout" do
-  xhr :get, :show, params: { id: articles(:first).id }
+  get :show, params: { id: articles(:first).id }, xhr: true
 
   assert_template :index
   assert_template layout: nil