diff --git a/lib/grade/tests/grade_scale_test.php b/lib/grade/tests/grade_scale_test.php
index 722f7680f04..e1040f08139 100644
--- a/lib/grade/tests/grade_scale_test.php
+++ b/lib/grade/tests/grade_scale_test.php
@@ -167,5 +167,9 @@ class core_grade_scale_testcase extends grade_base_testcase {
         $this->assertNotEmpty($grade_item->id);
         $this->assertEquals(1, $grade_item->grademin);
         $this->assertEquals(1, $grade_item->grademax);
+
+        $status = $scale->is_used();
+
+        $this->assertTrue($status);
     }
 }
diff --git a/mod/forum/lib.php b/mod/forum/lib.php
index 79cc80fc5fb..e9089555fd1 100644
--- a/mod/forum/lib.php
+++ b/mod/forum/lib.php
@@ -954,7 +954,7 @@ function forum_scale_used_anywhere(int $scaleid): bool {
         return false;
     }
 
-    return $DB->record_exists('forum', ['scale' => $scaleid * -1]);
+    return $DB->record_exists_select('forum', "scale = ? and assessed > 0", [$scaleid * -1]);
 }
 
 // SQL FUNCTIONS ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/mod/glossary/lib.php b/mod/glossary/lib.php
index afae7fe5159..ab662bb3a0f 100644
--- a/mod/glossary/lib.php
+++ b/mod/glossary/lib.php
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ function glossary_scale_used() {
 function glossary_scale_used_anywhere($scaleid) {
     global $DB;
 
-    if ($scaleid and $DB->record_exists('glossary', array('scale'=>-$scaleid))) {
+    if ($scaleid and $DB->record_exists_select('glossary', "scale = ? and assessed > 0", [-$scaleid])) {
         return true;
     } else {
         return false;