diff --git a/question/type/essay/questiontype.php b/question/type/essay/questiontype.php
index c4c48281b4d..f45eff0646e 100644
--- a/question/type/essay/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/essay/questiontype.php
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ class question_essay_qtype extends default_questiontype {
             $safeformatoptions->para = false;
             $answer = format_text($value, FORMAT_MOODLE,
                                   $safeformatoptions, $cmoptions->course);
+            $answer = '<div class="answerreview">' . $answer . '</div>';
         }
 
         include("$CFG->dirroot/question/type/essay/display.html");
diff --git a/theme/standard/styles_color.css b/theme/standard/styles_color.css
index e15f836f756..c43a675e721 100644
--- a/theme/standard/styles_color.css
+++ b/theme/standard/styles_color.css
@@ -754,6 +754,9 @@ table.message_search_results td {
 .shortanswer .answer {
     background-color: #EEE;
 }
+.essay .answerreview {
+    background-color: #EEE;
+}
 .que .feedback {
   border-color: #DDD;
 }