diff --git a/mod/assign/feedback/file/importziplib.php b/mod/assign/feedback/file/importziplib.php
index b355b33cad3..c3a0441ea7a 100644
--- a/mod/assign/feedback/file/importziplib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/feedback/file/importziplib.php
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ class assignfeedback_file_zip_importer {
                     $fileplugin->update_file_count($grade);
 
                     // Update the last modified time on the grade which will trigger student notifications.
-                    $assignment->update_grade($grade);
+                    $assignment->notify_grade_modified($grade);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/mod/assign/feedback/file/locallib.php b/mod/assign/feedback/file/locallib.php
index 6ed295eca93..7c6a12a5438 100644
--- a/mod/assign/feedback/file/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/feedback/file/locallib.php
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ class assign_feedback_file extends assign_feedback_plugin {
             // Now copy each of these files to the users feedback file area.
             foreach ($users as $userid) {
                 $grade = $this->assignment->get_user_grade($userid, true);
+                $this->assignment->notify_grade_modified($grade);
 
                 $this->copy_area_files($fs,
                                        $this->assignment->get_context()->id,
diff --git a/mod/assign/feedback/offline/locallib.php b/mod/assign/feedback/offline/locallib.php
index d64927fac30..e01d7b89245 100644
--- a/mod/assign/feedback/offline/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/feedback/offline/locallib.php
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ class assign_feedback_offline extends assign_feedback_plugin {
                 $grade->grade = $record->grade;
                 $grade->grader = $USER->id;
                 if ($this->assignment->update_grade($grade)) {
+                    $this->assignment->notify_grade_modified($grade);
                     $this->assignment->add_to_log('grade submission', $this->assignment->format_grade_for_log($grade));
                     $updatecount += 1;
                 }
@@ -178,6 +179,7 @@ class assign_feedback_offline extends assign_feedback_plugin {
                     if ($newvalue != $oldvalue) {
                         $updatecount += 1;
                         $grade = $this->assignment->get_user_grade($record->user->id, true);
+                        $this->assignment->notify_grade_modified($grade);
                         if ($plugin->set_editor_text($field, $newvalue, $grade->id)) {
                             $logdesc = get_string('feedbackupdate', 'assignfeedback_offline',
                                                   array('field'=>$description,
diff --git a/mod/assign/locallib.php b/mod/assign/locallib.php
index 9971cd04059..6b4b8eda143 100644
--- a/mod/assign/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/locallib.php
@@ -1476,6 +1476,23 @@ class assign {
         return true;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Mark in the database that this grade record should have an update notification sent by cron.
+     *
+     * @param stdClass $grade a grade record keyed on id
+     * @return bool true for success
+     */
+    public function notify_grade_modified($grade) {
+        global $DB;
+
+        $grade->timemodified = time();
+        if ($grade->mailed != 1) {
+            $grade->mailed = 0;
+        }
+
+        return $DB->update_record('assign_grades', $grade);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Update a grade in the grade table for the assignment and in the gradebook
      *
@@ -2175,6 +2192,10 @@ class assign {
             $grade->grade = -1;
             $grade->grader = $USER->id;
             $grade->extensionduedate = 0;
+
+            // The mailed flag can be one of 3 values: 0 is unsent, 1 is sent and 2 is do not send yet.
+            // This is because students only want to be notified about certain types of update (grades and feedback).
+            $grade->mailed = 2;
             $gid = $DB->insert_record('assign_grades', $grade);
             $grade->id = $gid;
             return $grade;
@@ -3712,6 +3733,7 @@ class assign {
             }
 
             $this->update_grade($grade);
+            $this->notify_grade_modified($grade);
 
             // save outcomes
             if ($CFG->enableoutcomes) {
@@ -4406,6 +4428,7 @@ class assign {
             }
         }
         $this->update_grade($grade);
+        $this->notify_grade_modified($grade);
         $user = $DB->get_record('user', array('id' => $userid), '*', MUST_EXIST);
 
         $this->add_to_log('grade submission', $this->format_grade_for_log($grade));