diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
index d3ce7e167c..858c9a4fd5 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
@@ -26,6 +26,18 @@ if settings.MOCK_PEER_GRADING:
 else:
     peer_gs = PeerGradingService(settings.PEER_GRADING_INTERFACE)
 
+"""
+Reverses the URL from the name and the course id, and then adds a trailing slash if
+it does not exist yet
+
+"""
+def _reverse_with_slash(url_name, course_id):
+    ajax_url = reverse(url_name, kwargs={'course_id': course_id})
+    if not ajax_url.endswith('/'):
+        ajax_url += '/'
+    return ajax_url
+
+
 @cache_control(no_cache=True, no_store=True, must_revalidate=True)
 def staff_grading(request, course_id):
     """
@@ -33,9 +45,7 @@ def staff_grading(request, course_id):
     """
     course = get_course_with_access(request.user, course_id, 'staff')
 
-    ajax_url = reverse('staff_grading', kwargs={'course_id': course_id})
-    if not ajax_url.endswith('/'):
-        ajax_url += '/'
+    ajax_url = _reverse_with_slash('staff_grading', course_id)
         
     return render_to_response('instructor/staff_grading.html', {
         'course': course,
@@ -57,24 +67,23 @@ def peer_grading(request, course_id):
     error_text = ""
     problem_list = []
     try:
-        problem_list_text = peer_gs.get_problem_list(course_id, unique_id_for_user(request.user))
-        problem_list_json = json.loads(problem_list_text)
-        success = problem_list_json['success']
-        if 'error' in problem_list_json:
-            error_text = problem_list_json['error']
+        problem_list_json = peer_gs.get_problem_list(course_id, unique_id_for_user(request.user))
+        problem_list_dict = json.loads(problem_list_json)
+        success = problem_list_dict['success']
+        if 'error' in problem_list_dict:
+            error_text = problem_list_dict['error']
 
-        problem_list = problem_list_json['problem_list']
+        problem_list = problem_list_dict['problem_list']
 
     except GradingServiceError:
         error_text = "Error occured while contacting the grading service"
         success = False
+    # catch error if if the json loads fails
     except ValueError:
         error_text = "Could not get problem list"
         success = False
 
-    ajax_url = reverse('peer_grading', kwargs={'course_id': course_id})
-    if not ajax_url.endswith('/'):
-        ajax_url += '/'
+    ajax_url = _reverse_with_slash('peer_grading', course_id)
 
     return render_to_response('peer_grading/peer_grading.html', { 
         'course': course,
@@ -95,9 +104,7 @@ def peer_grading_problem(request, course_id):
     course = get_course_with_access(request.user, course_id, 'load')
     problem_location = request.GET.get("location")
 
-    ajax_url = reverse('peer_grading', kwargs={'course_id': course_id})
-    if not ajax_url.endswith('/'):
-        ajax_url += '/'
+    ajax_url = _reverse_with_slash('peer_grading', course_id)
 
     return render_to_response('peer_grading/peer_grading_problem.html', { 
         'view_html': '',