diff --git a/lib/db/services.php b/lib/db/services.php
index ba733bc80df..abbb1b7ab3a 100644
--- a/lib/db/services.php
+++ b/lib/db/services.php
@@ -1046,6 +1046,15 @@ $functions = array(
         'type'         => 'read',
         'capabilities' => 'report/completion:view',
     ),
+
+    // Rating functions.
+    'core_rating_get_item_ratings' => array(
+        'classname'     => 'core_rating_external',
+        'methodname'    => 'get_item_ratings',
+        'description'   => 'Retrieve all the ratings for an item.',
+        'type'          => 'read',
+        'capabilities'  => 'moodle/rating:view'
+    ),
 );
 
 $services = array(
@@ -1117,6 +1126,7 @@ $services = array(
             'mod_forum_view_forum_discussion',
             'core_user_view_user_profile',
             'gradereport_user_view_grade_report',
+            'core_rating_get_item_ratings',
             ),
         'enabled' => 0,
         'restrictedusers' => 0,
diff --git a/rating/classes/external.php b/rating/classes/external.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..691ca3277e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rating/classes/external.php
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+<?php
+// This file is part of Moodle - http://moodle.org/
+//
+// Moodle is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Moodle is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+/**
+ * Rating external API
+ *
+ * @package    core_rating
+ * @category   external
+ * @copyright  2015 Costantino Cito <ccito@cvaconsulting.com>
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ * @since      Moodle 2.9
+ */
+
+defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die;
+
+require_once("$CFG->libdir/externallib.php");
+require_once("$CFG->dirroot/rating/lib.php");
+
+/**
+ * Rating external functions
+ *
+ * @package    core_rating
+ * @category   external
+ * @copyright  2015 Costantino Cito <ccito@cvaconsulting.com>
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ * @since      Moodle 2.9
+ */
+class core_rating_external extends external_api {
+
+    /**
+     * Returns description of get_item_ratings parameters.
+     *
+     * @return external_function_parameters
+     * @since Moodle 2.9
+     */
+    public static function get_item_ratings_parameters() {
+        return new external_function_parameters (
+            array(
+                'contextlevel'  => new external_value(PARAM_ALPHA, 'context level: course, module, user, etc...'),
+                'instanceid'    => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'the instance id of item associated with the context level'),
+                'component'     => new external_value(PARAM_COMPONENT, 'component'),
+                'ratingarea'    => new external_value(PARAM_AREA, 'rating area'),
+                'itemid'        => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'associated id'),
+                'scaleid'       => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'scale id'),
+                'sort'          => new external_value(PARAM_ALPHA, 'sort order (firstname, rating or timemodified)')
+            )
+        );
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve a list of ratings for a given item (forum post etc)
+     *
+     * @param string $contextlevel course, module, user...
+     * @param int $instanceid the instance if for the context element
+     * @param string $component the name of the component
+     * @param string $ratingarea rating area
+     * @param int $itemid the item id
+     * @param int $scaleid the scale id
+     * @param string $sort sql order (firstname, rating or timemodified)
+     * @return array Result and possible warnings
+     * @throws moodle_exception
+     * @since Moodle 2.9
+     */
+    public static function get_item_ratings($contextlevel, $instanceid, $component, $ratingarea, $itemid, $scaleid, $sort) {
+        global $USER;
+
+        $warnings = array();
+
+        $arrayparams = array(
+            'contextlevel' => $contextlevel,
+            'instanceid'   => $instanceid,
+            'component'    => $component,
+            'ratingarea'   => $ratingarea,
+            'itemid'       => $itemid,
+            'scaleid'      => $scaleid,
+            'sort'         => $sort
+        );
+
+        // Validate and normalize parameters.
+        $params = self::validate_parameters(self::get_item_ratings_parameters(), $arrayparams);
+
+        $context = self::get_context_from_params($params);
+        self::validate_context($context);
+
+        // Minimal capability required.
+        if (!has_capability('moodle/rating:view', $context)) {
+            throw new moodle_exception('noviewrate', 'rating');
+        }
+
+        list($context, $course, $cm) = get_context_info_array($context->id);
+
+        // Can we see all ratings?
+        $canviewallratings = has_capability('moodle/rating:viewall', $context);
+
+        // Create the Sql sort order string.
+        switch ($params['sort']) {
+            case 'firstname':
+                $sqlsort = "u.firstname ASC";
+                break;
+            case 'rating':
+                $sqlsort = "r.rating ASC";
+                break;
+            default:
+                $sqlsort = "r.timemodified ASC";
+        }
+
+        $ratingoptions = new stdClass;
+        $ratingoptions->context = $context;
+        $ratingoptions->component = $params['component'];
+        $ratingoptions->ratingarea = $params['ratingarea'];
+        $ratingoptions->itemid = $params['itemid'];
+        $ratingoptions->sort = $sqlsort;
+
+        $rm = new rating_manager();
+        $ratings = $rm->get_all_ratings_for_item($ratingoptions);
+        $scalemenu = make_grades_menu($params['scaleid']);
+
+        // If the scale was changed after ratings were submitted some ratings may have a value above the current maximum.
+        // We can't just do count($scalemenu) - 1 as custom scales start at index 1, not 0.
+        $maxrating = max(array_keys($scalemenu));
+
+        $results = array();
+
+        foreach ($ratings as $rating) {
+            if ($canviewallratings || $USER->id == $rating->userid) {
+                if ($rating->rating > $maxrating) {
+                    $rating->rating = $maxrating;
+                }
+                $usercontext = context_user::instance($rating->userid);
+                $profileimageurl = moodle_url::make_webservice_pluginfile_url($usercontext->id, 'user', 'icon', null, '/', 'f1');
+
+                $result = array();
+                $result['id'] = $rating->id;
+                $result['userid'] = $rating->userid;
+                $result['userpictureurl'] = $profileimageurl->out(false);
+                $result['userfullname'] = fullname($rating);
+                $result['rating'] = $scalemenu[$rating->rating];
+                $result['timemodified'] = $rating->timemodified;
+                $results[] = $result;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return array(
+            'ratings' => $results,
+            'warnings' => $warnings
+        );
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns description of get_item_ratings result values.
+     *
+     * @return external_single_structure
+     * @since Moodle 2.9
+     */
+    public static function get_item_ratings_returns() {
+
+        return new external_single_structure(
+            array(
+                'ratings'    => new external_multiple_structure(
+                    new external_single_structure(
+                        array(
+                            'id'              => new external_value(PARAM_INT,  'rating id'),
+                            'userid'          => new external_value(PARAM_INT,  'user id'),
+                            'userpictureurl'  => new external_value(PARAM_URL,  'URL user picture'),
+                            'userfullname'    => new external_value(PARAM_NOTAGS, 'user fullname'),
+                            'rating'          => new external_value(PARAM_NOTAGS, 'rating on scale'),
+                            'timemodified'    => new external_value(PARAM_INT,  'time modified (timestamp)')
+                        ), 'Rating'
+                    ), 'list of ratings'
+                ),
+                'warnings'  => new external_warnings(),
+            )
+        );
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/rating/tests/externallib_test.php b/rating/tests/externallib_test.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fc42a59daae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rating/tests/externallib_test.php
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+<?php
+// This file is part of Moodle - http://moodle.org/
+//
+// Moodle is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Moodle is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+/**
+ * External rating functions unit tests
+ *
+ * @package    core_rating
+ * @category   external
+ * @copyright  2015 Costantino Cito <ccito@cvaconsulting.com>
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ */
+
+defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
+
+global $CFG;
+
+require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/webservice/tests/helpers.php');
+require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/rating/lib.php');
+
+/**
+ * External rating functions unit tests
+ *
+ * @package    core_rating
+ * @category   external
+ * @copyright  2015 Costantino Cito <ccito@cvaconsulting.com>
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ */
+class core_rating_externallib_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
+
+    /**
+     * Test get_item_ratings
+     */
+    public function test_get_item_ratings() {
+
+        global $DB, $USER;
+
+        $this->resetAfterTest(true);
+
+        $course = self::getDataGenerator()->create_course();
+        $student = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_user();
+        $teacher1 = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_user();
+        $teacher2 = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_user();
+        $studentrole = $DB->get_record('role', array('shortname' => 'student'));
+        $teacherrole = $DB->get_record('role', array('shortname' => 'teacher'));
+
+        $this->getDataGenerator()->enrol_user($student->id,  $course->id, $studentrole->id);
+        $this->getDataGenerator()->enrol_user($teacher1->id, $course->id, $teacherrole->id);
+        $this->getDataGenerator()->enrol_user($teacher2->id, $course->id, $teacherrole->id);
+
+        // Create the forum.
+        $record = new stdClass();
+        $record->introformat = FORMAT_HTML;
+        $record->course = $course->id;
+        // Set Aggregate type = Average of ratings.
+        $record->assessed = RATING_AGGREGATE_AVERAGE;
+        $forum = self::getDataGenerator()->create_module('forum', $record);
+
+        $contextid = context_module::instance($forum->cmid)->id;
+
+        // Add discussion to the forums.
+        $record = new stdClass();
+        $record->course = $course->id;
+        $record->userid = $student->id;
+        $record->forum = $forum->id;
+        $discussion = self::getDataGenerator()->get_plugin_generator('mod_forum')->create_discussion($record);
+
+        // Rete the discussion as teacher1.
+        $rating1 = new stdClass();
+        $rating1->contextid = $contextid;
+        $rating1->component = 'mod_forum';
+        $rating1->ratingarea = 'post';
+        $rating1->itemid = $discussion->id;
+        $rating1->rating = 90;
+        $rating1->scaleid = 100;
+        $rating1->userid = $teacher1->id;
+        $rating1->timecreated = time();
+        $rating1->timemodified = time();
+        $rating1->id = $DB->insert_record('rating', $rating1);
+
+        // Rete the discussion as teacher2.
+        $rating2 = new stdClass();
+        $rating2->contextid = $contextid;
+        $rating2->component = 'mod_forum';
+        $rating2->ratingarea = 'post';
+        $rating2->itemid = $discussion->id;
+        $rating2->rating = 95;
+        $rating2->scaleid = 100;
+        $rating2->userid = $teacher2->id;
+        $rating2->timecreated = time() + 1;
+        $rating2->timemodified = time() + 1;
+        $rating2->id = $DB->insert_record('rating', $rating2);
+
+        // Teachers can see all the ratings.
+        $this->setUser($teacher1);
+
+        $ratings = core_rating_external::get_item_ratings('module', $forum->cmid, 'mod_forum', 'post', $discussion->id, 100, '');
+        // We need to execute the return values cleaning process to simulate the web service server.
+        $ratings = external_api::clean_returnvalue(core_rating_external::get_item_ratings_returns(), $ratings);
+        $this->assertCount(2, $ratings['ratings']);
+
+        $indexedratings = array();
+        foreach ($ratings['ratings'] as $rating) {
+            $indexedratings[$rating['id']] = $rating;
+        }
+        $this->assertEquals($rating1->rating.' / '.$rating1->scaleid, $indexedratings[$rating1->id]['rating']);
+        $this->assertEquals($rating2->rating.' / '.$rating2->scaleid, $indexedratings[$rating2->id]['rating']);
+
+        $this->assertEquals($rating1->userid, $indexedratings[$rating1->id]['userid']);
+        $this->assertEquals($rating2->userid, $indexedratings[$rating2->id]['userid']);
+
+        // Student can see ratings.
+        $this->setUser($student);
+
+        $ratings = core_rating_external::get_item_ratings('module', $forum->cmid, 'mod_forum', 'post', $discussion->id, 100, '');
+        // We need to execute the return values cleaning process to simulate the web service server.
+        $ratings = external_api::clean_returnvalue(core_rating_external::get_item_ratings_returns(), $ratings);
+        $this->assertCount(2, $ratings['ratings']);
+
+        // Invalid item.
+        $ratings = core_rating_external::get_item_ratings('module', $forum->cmid, 'mod_forum', 'post', 0, 100, '');
+        // We need to execute the return values cleaning process to simulate the web service server.
+        $ratings = external_api::clean_returnvalue(core_rating_external::get_item_ratings_returns(), $ratings);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $ratings['ratings']);
+
+        // Invalid area.
+        $ratings = core_rating_external::get_item_ratings('module', $forum->cmid, 'mod_forum', 'xyz', $discussion->id, 100, '');
+        // We need to execute the return values cleaning process to simulate the web service server.
+        $ratings = external_api::clean_returnvalue(core_rating_external::get_item_ratings_returns(), $ratings);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $ratings['ratings']);
+
+        // Invalid context. invalid_parameter_exception.
+        try {
+            $ratings = core_rating_external::get_item_ratings('module', 0, 'mod_forum', 'post', $discussion->id, 100, '');
+            $this->fail('Exception expected due invalid context.');
+        } catch (invalid_parameter_exception $e) {
+            $this->assertEquals('invalidparameter', $e->errorcode);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/version.php b/version.php
index 9f17d6ef6d1..82abb6986d7 100644
--- a/version.php
+++ b/version.php
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 
 defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
 
-$version  = 2015040200.05;              // YYYYMMDD      = weekly release date of this DEV branch.
+$version  = 2015040200.06;              // YYYYMMDD      = weekly release date of this DEV branch.
                                         //         RR    = release increments - 00 in DEV branches.
                                         //           .XX = incremental changes.