diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_module.py
index f5014af948..cb05074b34 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_module.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedModule(XModule):
                 self.state=self.ASSESSING
             elif current_task_state is None and self.current_task_number>0:
                 last_response, last_score=self.get_last_response(self.current_task_number-1)
-                current_task_state = ('{"state": "assessing", "version": 1, "max_score": ' + str(self._max_score) + ', ' +
+                current_task_state = ('{"state": "initial", "version": 1, "max_score": ' + str(self._max_score) + ', ' +
                                       '"attempts": 0, "history": [{"answer": "' + str(last_response) + '"}]}')
                 {"state": "done", "version": 1, "max_score": 1, "attempts": 1, "history": [{"answer": "gdgddg", "score": 0, "hint": "dfdfdf"}]}
                 self.current_task=open_ended_module.OpenEndedModule(self.system, self.location, self.current_task_parsed_xml, self.current_task_descriptor, instance_state=current_task_state)
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_module.py
index 96cc87da3a..2cc436a808 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_module.py
@@ -576,20 +576,20 @@ class OpenEndedModule():
     def latest_answer(self):
         """None if not available"""
         if not self.history:
-            return None
-        return self.history[-1].get('answer')
+            return ""
+        return self.history[-1].get('answer', "")
 
     def latest_score(self):
         """None if not available"""
         if not self.history:
-            return None
-        return self.history[-1].get('score')
+            return ""
+        return self.history[-1].get('score', "")
 
     def latest_feedback(self):
         """None if not available"""
         if not self.history:
-            return None
-        return self.history[-1].get('feedback')
+            return ""
+        return self.history[-1].get('feedback', "")
 
     def new_history_entry(self, answer):
         self.history.append({'answer': answer})