diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/BUILD.bazel b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/BUILD.bazel
index 365b20bc3d..b49764a597 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/BUILD.bazel
@@ -12,17 +12,14 @@ ts_library(
         "//packages/compiler",
         "//packages/compiler-cli",
         "//packages/compiler/test:test_utils",
-        "//packages/compiler/testing",
-        "//packages/core",
     ],
 )
 
 jasmine_node_test(
     name = "compliance",
-    bootstrap = ["angular/tools/testing/init_node_spec.js"],
+    bootstrap = ["angular/tools/testing/init_node_no_angular_spec.js"],
     data = [
-        "//packages/common:npm_package",
-        "//packages/core:npm_package",
+        "//packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/fake_core:npm_package",
     ],
     tags = [
         "ivy-local",
@@ -30,6 +27,6 @@ jasmine_node_test(
     ],
     deps = [
         ":test_lib",
-        "//tools/testing:node",
+        "//tools/testing:node_no_angular",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/mock_compiler_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/mock_compiler_spec.ts
index 128890af0e..77e5320f5f 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/mock_compiler_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/mock_compiler_spec.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ describe('mock_compiler', () => {
   // This produces a MockDirectory of the file needed to compile an Angular application.
   // This setup is performed in a beforeAll which populates the map returned.
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
   });
 
   describe('compiling', () => {
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_compiler_compliance_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_compiler_compliance_spec.ts
index 3540e9700a..c338994e57 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_compiler_compliance_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_compiler_compliance_spec.ts
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ import {compile, expectEmit} from './mock_compile';
 describe('compiler compliance', () => {
 
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
   });
 
   describe('elements', () => {
@@ -1287,7 +1287,6 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
         app: {
           'spec.ts': `
               import {Component, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-              import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 
               @Component({
                 selector: 'my-component',
@@ -1301,7 +1300,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
               })
               export class MyComponent {}
 
-              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent], imports: [CommonModule]})
+              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent]})
               export class MyModule {}
           `
         }
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_binding_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_binding_spec.ts
index 4b6d9b474b..5dde3a2b3e 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_binding_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_binding_spec.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import {compile, expectEmit} from './mock_compile';
 
 describe('compiler compliance: bindings', () => {
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: false,
   });
 
   describe('text bindings', () => {
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_di_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_di_spec.ts
index 455569a0a5..1075fa1fa7 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_di_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_di_spec.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import {compile, expectEmit} from './mock_compile';
 
 describe('compiler compliance: dependency injection', () => {
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
   });
 
   it('should create factory methods', () => {
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ describe('compiler compliance: dependency injection', () => {
       app: {
         'spec.ts': `
               import {Component, NgModule, Injectable, Attribute, Host, SkipSelf, Self, Optional} from '@angular/core';
-              import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 
               @Injectable()
               export class MyService {}
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: dependency injection', () => {
                 ) {}
               }
 
-              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent], imports: [CommonModule], providers: [MyService]})
+              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent], providers: [MyService]})
               export class MyModule {}
           `
       }
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_i18n_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_i18n_spec.ts
index f3af5b9a3b..98884f56ea 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_i18n_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_i18n_spec.ts
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ const TRANSLATION_NAME_REGEXP = /^MSG_[A-Z0-9]+/;
 
 describe('i18n support in the view compiler', () => {
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
   });
 
   describe('single text nodes', () => {
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_input_outputs_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_input_outputs_spec.ts
index 6b8adb4abf..06b57717af 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_input_outputs_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_input_outputs_spec.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import {compile, expectEmit} from './mock_compile';
 
 describe('compiler compliance: listen()', () => {
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
   });
 
   it('should create declare inputs/outputs', () => {
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_listener_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_listener_spec.ts
index 41bb8e5740..944f4c6c1e 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_listener_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_listener_spec.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ import {compile, expectEmit} from './mock_compile';
   */
 describe('compiler compliance: listen()', () => {
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
   });
 
   it('should create listener instruction on element', () => {
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ describe('compiler compliance: listen()', () => {
       app: {
         'spec.ts': `
               import {Component, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-              import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 
               @Component({
                 selector: 'my-component',
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: listen()', () => {
                 onClick2(name: any) {}
               }
 
-              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent], imports: [CommonModule]})
+              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent]})
               export class MyModule {}
           `
       }
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_spec.ts
index c67dfb1efe..de9d39af5c 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_spec.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import {compile, expectEmit} from './mock_compile';
 
 describe('r3_view_compiler', () => {
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
   });
 
   describe('hello world', () => {
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ describe('r3_view_compiler', () => {
       app: {
         'example.ts': `
         import {Component, OnInit, OnDestroy, ElementRef, Input, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-        import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 
         @Component({
           selector: 'my-app',
@@ -83,7 +82,6 @@ describe('r3_view_compiler', () => {
 
         @NgModule({
           declarations: [TodoComponent, MyApp],
-          imports: [CommonModule]
         })
         export class TodoModule{}
         `
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_styling_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_styling_spec.ts
index 00aa063cae..516623def2 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_styling_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_styling_spec.ts
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ import {compile, expectEmit} from './mock_compile';
 
 describe('compiler compliance: styling', () => {
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
   });
 
   describe('[style] and [style.prop]', () => {
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_template_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_template_spec.ts
index 4d051e5109..7f90ee7cbf 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_template_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/r3_view_compiler_template_spec.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import {compile, expectEmit} from './mock_compile';
 
 describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
   const angularFiles = setup({
-    compileAngular: true,
+    compileAngular: false,
+    compileFakeCore: true,
     compileAnimations: false,
-    compileCommon: true,
   });
 
   it('should correctly bind to context in nested template', () => {
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
       app: {
         'spec.ts': `
               import {Component, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-              import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 
               @Component({
                 selector: 'my-component',
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
                 onClick(outer: any, middle: any, inner: any) { }
               }
 
-              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent], imports: [CommonModule]})
+              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent]})
               export class MyModule {}
           `
       }
@@ -122,7 +121,6 @@ describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
       app: {
         'spec.ts': `
               import {Component, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-              import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 
               @Component({
                 selector: 'my-component',
@@ -133,7 +131,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
               })
               export class MyComponent {}
 
-              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent], imports: [CommonModule]})
+              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent]})
               export class MyModule {}
           `
       }
@@ -174,7 +172,6 @@ describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
       app: {
         'spec.ts': `
               import {Component, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-              import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 
               @Component({
                 selector: 'my-component',
@@ -187,7 +184,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
               })
               export class MyComponent {}
 
-              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent], imports: [CommonModule]})
+              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent]})
               export class MyModule {}
           `
       }
@@ -243,7 +240,6 @@ describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
       app: {
         'spec.ts': `
               import {Component, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-              import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 
               @Component({
                 selector: 'my-component',
@@ -258,7 +254,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: template', () => {
               })
               export class MyComponent {}
 
-              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent], imports: [CommonModule]})
+              @NgModule({declarations: [MyComponent]})
               export class MyModule {}
           `
       }
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/fake_core/index.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/fake_core/index.ts
index 7e7978e1de..89e622ae45 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/fake_core/index.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/fake_core/index.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export type ModuleWithProviders<T> = any;
 export class ChangeDetectorRef {}
 export class ElementRef {}
 export class Injector {}
-export class TemplateRef {}
+export class TemplateRef<T = any> {}
 export class ViewContainerRef {}
 export class ɵNgModuleFactory<T> {
   constructor(public clazz: T) {}
@@ -56,3 +56,5 @@ export class ɵNgModuleFactory<T> {
 export function forwardRef<T>(fn: () => T): T {
   return fn();
 }
+
+export interface SimpleChanges { [propName: string]: any; }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/aot/test_util.ts b/packages/compiler/test/aot/test_util.ts
index 2a92800aa6..ce969725ef 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/aot/test_util.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/aot/test_util.ts
@@ -602,12 +602,16 @@ export function isInBazel(): boolean {
   return process.env.TEST_SRCDIR != null;
 }
 
-export function setup(
-    options: {compileAngular: boolean, compileAnimations: boolean, compileCommon?: boolean} = {
-      compileAngular: true,
-      compileAnimations: true,
-      compileCommon: false,
-    }) {
+export function setup(options: {
+  compileAngular: boolean,
+  compileFakeCore?: boolean,
+  compileAnimations: boolean, compileCommon?: boolean
+} = {
+  compileAngular: true,
+  compileAnimations: true,
+  compileCommon: false,
+  compileFakeCore: false,
+}) {
   let angularFiles = new Map<string, string>();
 
   beforeAll(() => {
@@ -626,6 +630,11 @@ export function setup(
             path.join(sources, 'angular/packages/core/npm_package'), 'core', angularFiles,
             skipDirs);
       }
+      if (options.compileFakeCore) {
+        readBazelWrittenFilesFrom(
+            path.join(sources, 'angular/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/fake_core/npm_package'),
+            'core', angularFiles, skipDirs);
+      }
       if (options.compileAnimations) {
         // If this fails please add //packages/animations:npm_package as a test data dependency.
         readBazelWrittenFilesFrom(