public function fetch_grade_or_default($item, $userid) {
        $grade = grade_grade::fetch(array(
            'itemid' => $item->id, 'userid' => $userid
        ));

        if (!$grade) {
            $default = new stdClass;

            $default->userid = $userid;
            $default->itemid = $item->id;
            $default->feedback = '';

            $grade = new grade_grade($default, false);
        }

        $grade->grade_item = $item;

        return $grade;
    }