diff --git a/mod/assign/feedback/comments/locallib.php b/mod/assign/feedback/comments/locallib.php
index bfe019c8386..6ba2770ab82 100644
--- a/mod/assign/feedback/comments/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/feedback/comments/locallib.php
@@ -100,6 +100,29 @@ class assign_feedback_comments extends assign_feedback_plugin {
         return ($newvalue !== false) && ($newvalue != $commenttext);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Has the comment feedback been modified?
+     *
+     * @param stdClass $grade The grade object.
+     * @param stdClass $data Data from the form submission.
+     * @return boolean True if the comment feedback has been modified, else false.
+     */
+    public function is_feedback_modified(stdClass $grade, stdClass $data) {
+        $commenttext = '';
+        if ($grade) {
+            $feedbackcomments = $this->get_feedback_comments($grade->id);
+            if ($feedbackcomments) {
+                $commenttext = $feedbackcomments->commenttext;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if ($commenttext == $data->assignfeedbackcomments_editor['text']) {
+            return false;
+        } else {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
 
     /**
      * Override to indicate a plugin supports quickgrading.
diff --git a/mod/assign/feedback/editpdf/locallib.php b/mod/assign/feedback/editpdf/locallib.php
index 0bde7548b8e..57e0e71fee9 100644
--- a/mod/assign/feedback/editpdf/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/feedback/editpdf/locallib.php
@@ -185,6 +185,53 @@ class assign_feedback_editpdf extends assign_feedback_plugin {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Check to see if the grade feedback for the pdf has been modified.
+     *
+     * @param stdClass $grade Grade object.
+     * @param stdClass $data Data from the form submission (not used).
+     * @return boolean True if the pdf has been modified, else false.
+     */
+    public function is_feedback_modified(stdClass $grade, stdClass $data) {
+        global $USER;
+        $pagenumbercount = document_services::page_number_for_attempt($this->assignment, $grade->userid, $grade->attemptnumber);
+        for ($i = 0; $i < $pagenumbercount; $i++) {
+            // Select all annotations.
+            $draftannotations = page_editor::get_annotations($grade->id, $i, true);
+            $nondraftannotations = page_editor::get_annotations($grade->id, $i, false);
+            // Check to see if the count is the same.
+            if (count($draftannotations) != count($nondraftannotations)) {
+                // The count is different so we have a modification.
+                return true;
+            } else {
+                // Have a closer look and see if the draft files match the non draft files.
+                foreach ($nondraftannotations as $index => $ndannotation) {
+                    foreach ($ndannotation as $key => $value) {
+                        if ($key != 'id' && $value != $draftannotations[$index]->$key) {
+                            return true;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            // Select all comments.
+            $draftcomments = page_editor::get_comments($grade->id, $i, true);
+            $nondraftcomments = page_editor::get_comments($grade->id, $i, false);
+            if (count($draftcomments) != count($nondraftcomments)) {
+                return true;
+            } else {
+                // Go for a closer inspection.
+                foreach ($nondraftcomments as $index => $ndcomment) {
+                    foreach ($ndcomment as $key => $value) {
+                        if ($key != 'id' && $value != $draftcomments[$index]->$key) {
+                            return true;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Generate the pdf.
      *
diff --git a/mod/assign/feedback/file/locallib.php b/mod/assign/feedback/file/locallib.php
index c4d95bc1eba..27d1b344e29 100644
--- a/mod/assign/feedback/file/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/feedback/file/locallib.php
@@ -77,6 +77,70 @@ class assign_feedback_file extends assign_feedback_plugin {
         return $fileoptions;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Has the feedback file been modified?
+     *
+     * @param stdClass $grade Grade object.
+     * @param stdClass $data Form data.
+     * @return boolean True if the file area has been modified, else false.
+     */
+    public function is_feedback_modified(stdClass $grade, stdClass $data) {
+        global $USER;
+
+        $filekey = null;
+        $draftareainfo = null;
+        foreach ($data as $key => $value) {
+            if (strpos($key, 'files_') === 0) {
+                $filekey = $key;
+            }
+        }
+        if (isset($filekey)) {
+            $draftareainfo = file_get_draft_area_info($data->$filekey);
+            $filecount = $this->count_files($grade->id, ASSIGNFEEDBACK_FILE_FILEAREA);
+            if ($filecount != $draftareainfo['filecount']) {
+                return true;
+            } else {
+                // We need to check that the files in the draft area are the same as in the file area.
+                $usercontext = context_user::instance($USER->id);
+                $fs = get_file_storage();
+                $draftfiles = $fs->get_area_files($usercontext->id, 'user', 'draft', $data->$filekey, 'id', true);
+                $files = $fs->get_area_files($this->assignment->get_context()->id,
+                                     'assignfeedback_file',
+                                     ASSIGNFEEDBACK_FILE_FILEAREA,
+                                     $grade->id,
+                                     'id',
+                                     false);
+                foreach ($files as $key => $file) {
+                    // Flag for recording if we have a matching file.
+                    $matchflag = false;
+                    foreach ($draftfiles as $draftkey => $draftfile) {
+                        if (!$file->is_directory()) {
+                            // File name is the same, but it could be a different file with the same name.
+                            if ($draftfile->get_filename() == $file->get_filename()) {
+                                // If the file name is the same but the content hash is different, or
+                                // The file path for the file has changed, then we have a modification.
+                                if ($draftfile->get_contenthash() != $file->get_contenthash() ||
+                                        $draftfile->get_filepath() != $file->get_filepath()) {
+                                    return true;
+                                }
+                                // These files match. Check the next file.
+                                $matchflag = true;
+                                // We have a match on the file name so we can move to the next file and not
+                                // proceed through the other draftfiles.
+                                break;
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    // If the file does not match then there has been a modification.
+                    if (!$matchflag) {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Copy all the files from one file area to another.
      *
diff --git a/mod/assign/feedbackplugin.php b/mod/assign/feedbackplugin.php
index 6d793f47a00..8398a49ae44 100644
--- a/mod/assign/feedbackplugin.php
+++ b/mod/assign/feedbackplugin.php
@@ -112,6 +112,19 @@ abstract class assign_feedback_plugin extends assign_plugin {
         return false;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Has the plugin form element been modified in the current submission?
+     *
+     * @param stdClass $grade The grade.
+     * @param stdClass $data Form data from the feedback form.
+     * @return boolean - True if the form element has been modified.
+     */
+    public function is_feedback_modified(stdClass $grade, stdClass $data) {
+        debugging('This plugin has not overwritten the is_feedback_modified() method. Please add this method to your plugin',
+                DEBUG_DEVELOPER);
+        return true;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Save quickgrading changes.
      *
diff --git a/mod/assign/locallib.php b/mod/assign/locallib.php
index 5d44ce84494..aa6d88792c6 100644
--- a/mod/assign/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/locallib.php
@@ -6838,12 +6838,19 @@ class assign {
         $adminconfig = $this->get_admin_config();
         $gradebookplugin = $adminconfig->feedback_plugin_for_gradebook;
 
+        $feedbackmodified = false;
+
         // Call save in plugins.
         foreach ($this->feedbackplugins as $plugin) {
             if ($plugin->is_enabled() && $plugin->is_visible()) {
-                if (!$plugin->save($grade, $formdata)) {
-                    $result = false;
-                    print_error($plugin->get_error());
+                $gradingmodified = $plugin->is_feedback_modified($grade, $formdata);
+                if ($gradingmodified) {
+                    if (!$plugin->save($grade, $formdata)) {
+                        $result = false;
+                        print_error($plugin->get_error());
+                    }
+                    // If $feedbackmodified is true, keep it true.
+                    $feedbackmodified = $feedbackmodified || $gradingmodified;
                 }
                 if (('assignfeedback_' . $plugin->get_type()) == $gradebookplugin) {
                     // This is the feedback plugin chose to push comments to the gradebook.
@@ -6852,10 +6859,12 @@ class assign {
                 }
             }
         }
+
         // We do not want to update the timemodified if no grade was added.
         if (!empty($formdata->addattempt) ||
                 ($originalgrade !== null && $originalgrade != -1) ||
-                ($grade->grade !== null && $grade->grade != -1)) {
+                ($grade->grade !== null && $grade->grade != -1) ||
+                $feedbackmodified) {
             $this->update_grade($grade, !empty($formdata->addattempt));
         }
         // Note the default if not provided for this option is true (e.g. webservices).
diff --git a/mod/assign/upgrade.txt b/mod/assign/upgrade.txt
index d8d0282c4d7..7cadc8d1694 100644
--- a/mod/assign/upgrade.txt
+++ b/mod/assign/upgrade.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 This files describes API changes in the assign code.
 
+=== 3.1 ===
+* The feedback plugins now need to implement the is_feedback_modified() method. The default is to return true
+  for backwards compatibiltiy.
+
 === 3.0 ===
 * assign_submission_status renderable now requires $usergroups in its constructor