diff --git a/enrol/imsenterprise/tests/imsenterprise_test.php b/enrol/imsenterprise/tests/imsenterprise_test.php
index e3ed1128d40..dd8d9a8191d 100644
--- a/enrol/imsenterprise/tests/imsenterprise_test.php
+++ b/enrol/imsenterprise/tests/imsenterprise_test.php
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ class enrol_imsenterprise_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->set_xml_file(array($imsuser));
 
         $this->imsplugin->cron();
-        $this->assertEquals(1, $DB->get_field('user', 'deleted', array('id' => $user->id), '*', MUST_EXIST));
+        $this->assertEquals(1, $DB->get_field('user', 'deleted', array('id' => $user->id), MUST_EXIST));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ class enrol_imsenterprise_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->set_xml_file(array($imsuser));
 
         $this->imsplugin->cron();
-        $this->assertEquals(0, $DB->get_field('user', 'deleted', array('id' => $user->id), '*', MUST_EXIST));
+        $this->assertEquals(0, $DB->get_field('user', 'deleted', array('id' => $user->id), MUST_EXIST));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/mod/assign/submission/file/locallib.php b/mod/assign/submission/file/locallib.php
index 8a82199576b..2a02a855fcb 100644
--- a/mod/assign/submission/file/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/submission/file/locallib.php
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ class assign_submission_file extends assign_submission_plugin {
         $groupid = 0;
         // Get the group name as other fields are not transcribed in the logs and this information is important.
         if (empty($submission->userid) && !empty($submission->groupid)) {
-            $groupname = $DB->get_field('groups', 'name', array('id' => $submission->groupid), '*', MUST_EXIST);
+            $groupname = $DB->get_field('groups', 'name', array('id' => $submission->groupid), MUST_EXIST);
             $groupid = $submission->groupid;
         } else {
             $params['relateduserid'] = $submission->userid;
diff --git a/mod/assign/submission/onlinetext/locallib.php b/mod/assign/submission/onlinetext/locallib.php
index d75de5a4c17..1a03ee5dc76 100644
--- a/mod/assign/submission/onlinetext/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/submission/onlinetext/locallib.php
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ class assign_submission_onlinetext extends assign_submission_plugin {
         $groupid = 0;
         // Get the group name as other fields are not transcribed in the logs and this information is important.
         if (empty($submission->userid) && !empty($submission->groupid)) {
-            $groupname = $DB->get_field('groups', 'name', array('id' => $submission->groupid), '*', MUST_EXIST);
+            $groupname = $DB->get_field('groups', 'name', array('id' => $submission->groupid), MUST_EXIST);
             $groupid = $submission->groupid;
         } else {
             $params['relateduserid'] = $submission->userid;
diff --git a/question/type/multianswer/questiontype.php b/question/type/multianswer/questiontype.php
index 998a568a4da..9f51c6dbe4a 100644
--- a/question/type/multianswer/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/multianswer/questiontype.php
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class qtype_multianswer extends question_type {
 
         // Get relevant data indexed by positionkey from the multianswers table.
         $sequence = $DB->get_field('question_multianswer', 'sequence',
-                array('question' => $question->id), '*', MUST_EXIST);
+                array('question' => $question->id), MUST_EXIST);
 
         $wrappedquestions = $DB->get_records_list('question', 'id',
                 explode(',', $sequence), 'id ASC');
diff --git a/search/tests/behat/behat_search.php b/search/tests/behat/behat_search.php
index b6d209bd68c..206819de969 100644
--- a/search/tests/behat/behat_search.php
+++ b/search/tests/behat/behat_search.php
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class behat_search extends behat_base {
 
             // Find the specified activity.
             $idnumber = $input['idnumber'];
-            $cmid = $DB->get_field('course_modules', 'id', ['idnumber' => $idnumber], '*', IGNORE_MISSING);
+            $cmid = $DB->get_field('course_modules', 'id', ['idnumber' => $idnumber], IGNORE_MISSING);
             if (!$cmid) {
                 throw new Exception('Cannot find activity with idnumber: ' . $idnumber);
             }