diff --git a/course/classes/category.php b/course/classes/category.php
index aea6ed0df83..df21e273627 100644
--- a/course/classes/category.php
+++ b/course/classes/category.php
@@ -1993,7 +1993,7 @@ class core_course_category implements renderable, cacheable_object, IteratorAggr
 
         // Now delete anything that may depend on course category context.
         grade_course_category_delete($this->id, 0, $showfeedback);
-        if (!question_delete_course_category($this, 0, $showfeedback)) {
+        if (!question_delete_course_category($this, null)) {
             throw new moodle_exception('cannotdeletecategoryquestions', '', '', $this->get_formatted_name());
         }
 
@@ -2153,7 +2153,7 @@ class core_course_category implements renderable, cacheable_object, IteratorAggr
 
         // Now delete anything that may depend on course category context.
         grade_course_category_delete($this->id, $newparentid, $showfeedback);
-        if (!question_delete_course_category($this, $newparentcat, $showfeedback)) {
+        if (!question_delete_course_category($this, $newparentcat)) {
             if ($showfeedback) {
                 echo $OUTPUT->notification(get_string('errordeletingquestionsfromcategory', 'question', $catname), 'notifysuccess');
             }
diff --git a/course/lib.php b/course/lib.php
index 7268824761a..13b466733e5 100644
--- a/course/lib.php
+++ b/course/lib.php
@@ -1054,10 +1054,7 @@ function course_delete_module($cmid, $async = false) {
         }
     }
 
-    // Delete activity context questions and question categories.
-    $showinfo = !defined('AJAX_SCRIPT') || AJAX_SCRIPT == '0';
-
-    question_delete_activity($cm, $showinfo);
+    question_delete_activity($cm);
 
     // Call the delete_instance function, if it returns false throw an exception.
     if (!$deleteinstancefunction($cm->instance)) {
diff --git a/course/tests/courselib_test.php b/course/tests/courselib_test.php
index fef3933a62f..8f00f155602 100644
--- a/course/tests/courselib_test.php
+++ b/course/tests/courselib_test.php
@@ -1653,11 +1653,8 @@ class core_course_courselib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
             case 'quiz':
                 $qgen = $this->getDataGenerator()->get_plugin_generator('core_question');
                 $qcat = $qgen->create_question_category(array('contextid' => $modcontext->id));
-                $questions = array(
-                    $qgen->create_question('shortanswer', null, array('category' => $qcat->id)),
-                    $qgen->create_question('shortanswer', null, array('category' => $qcat->id)),
-                );
-                $this->expectOutputRegex('/'.get_string('unusedcategorydeleted', 'question').'/');
+                $qgen->create_question('shortanswer', null, array('category' => $qcat->id));
+                $qgen->create_question('shortanswer', null, array('category' => $qcat->id));
                 break;
             default:
                 break;
diff --git a/lib/moodlelib.php b/lib/moodlelib.php
index f1c9a30e560..4cf5faf808c 100644
--- a/lib/moodlelib.php
+++ b/lib/moodlelib.php
@@ -5270,7 +5270,7 @@ function remove_course_contents($courseid, $showfeedback = true, array $options
                 foreach ($instances as $cm) {
                     if ($cm->id) {
                         // Delete activity context questions and question categories.
-                        question_delete_activity($cm,  $showfeedback);
+                        question_delete_activity($cm);
                         // Notify the competency subsystem.
                         \core_competency\api::hook_course_module_deleted($cm);
                     }
@@ -5330,7 +5330,7 @@ function remove_course_contents($courseid, $showfeedback = true, array $options
     }
 
     // Delete questions and question categories.
-    question_delete_course($course, $showfeedback);
+    question_delete_course($course);
     if ($showfeedback) {
         echo $OUTPUT->notification($strdeleted.get_string('questions', 'question'), 'notifysuccess');
     }
diff --git a/lib/questionlib.php b/lib/questionlib.php
index 8f2c8344469..993aee48d28 100644
--- a/lib/questionlib.php
+++ b/lib/questionlib.php
@@ -402,17 +402,12 @@ function question_delete_question($questionid) {
 /**
  * All question categories and their questions are deleted for this context id.
  *
- * @param object $contextid The contextid to delete question categories from
- * @return array Feedback from deletes (if any)
+ * @param int $contextid The contextid to delete question categories from
+ * @return array only returns an empty array for backwards compatibility.
  */
 function question_delete_context($contextid) {
     global $DB;
 
-    //To store feedback to be showed at the end of the process
-    $feedbackdata   = array();
-
-    //Cache some strings
-    $strcatdeleted = get_string('unusedcategorydeleted', 'question');
     $fields = 'id, parent, name, contextid';
     if ($categories = $DB->get_records('question_categories', array('contextid' => $contextid), 'parent', $fields)) {
         //Sort categories following their tree (parent-child) relationships
@@ -421,32 +416,21 @@ function question_delete_context($contextid) {
 
         foreach ($categories as $category) {
             question_category_delete_safe($category);
-
-            //Fill feedback
-            $feedbackdata[] = array($category->name, $strcatdeleted);
         }
     }
-    return $feedbackdata;
+    return [];
 }
 
 /**
  * All question categories and their questions are deleted for this course.
  *
  * @param stdClass $course an object representing the activity
- * @param boolean $feedback to specify if the process must output a summary of its work
- * @return boolean
+ * @param bool $notused this argument is not used any more. Kept for backwards compatibility.
+ * @return bool always true.
  */
-function question_delete_course($course, $feedback=true) {
+function question_delete_course($course, $notused = false) {
     $coursecontext = context_course::instance($course->id);
-    $feedbackdata = question_delete_context($coursecontext->id, $feedback);
-
-    // Inform about changes performed if feedback is enabled.
-    if ($feedback && $feedbackdata) {
-        $table = new html_table();
-        $table->head = array(get_string('category', 'question'), get_string('action'));
-        $table->data = $feedbackdata;
-        echo html_writer::table($table);
-    }
+    question_delete_context($coursecontext->id);
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -455,26 +439,18 @@ function question_delete_course($course, $feedback=true) {
  * 1/ All question categories and their questions are deleted for this course category.
  * 2/ All questions are moved to new category
  *
- * @param object|core_course_category $category course category object
- * @param object|core_course_category $newcategory empty means everything deleted, otherwise id of
+ * @param stdClass|core_course_category $category course category object
+ * @param stdClass|core_course_category $newcategory empty means everything deleted, otherwise id of
  *      category where content moved
- * @param boolean $feedback to specify if the process must output a summary of its work
+ * @param bool $notused this argument is no longer used. Kept for backwards compatibility.
  * @return boolean
  */
-function question_delete_course_category($category, $newcategory, $feedback=true) {
-    global $DB, $OUTPUT;
+function question_delete_course_category($category, $newcategory, $notused=false) {
+    global $DB;
 
     $context = context_coursecat::instance($category->id);
     if (empty($newcategory)) {
-        $feedbackdata = question_delete_context($context->id, $feedback);
-
-        // Output feedback if requested.
-        if ($feedback && $feedbackdata) {
-            $table = new html_table();
-            $table->head = array(get_string('questioncategory', 'question'), get_string('action'));
-            $table->data = $feedbackdata;
-            echo html_writer::table($table);
-        }
+        question_delete_context($context->id);
 
     } else {
         // Move question categories to the new context.
@@ -491,14 +467,6 @@ function question_delete_course_category($category, $newcategory, $feedback=true
             // Now delete the top category.
             $DB->delete_records('question_categories', array('id' => $topcategory->id));
         }
-
-        if ($feedback) {
-            $a = new stdClass();
-            $a->oldplace = $context->get_context_name();
-            $a->newplace = $newcontext->get_context_name();
-            echo $OUTPUT->notification(
-                    get_string('movedquestionsandcategories', 'question', $a), 'notifysuccess');
-        }
     }
 
     return true;
@@ -542,21 +510,14 @@ function question_save_from_deletion($questionids, $newcontextid, $oldplace,
  * All question categories and their questions are deleted for this activity.
  *
  * @param object $cm the course module object representing the activity
- * @param boolean $feedback to specify if the process must output a summary of its work
+ * @param bool $notused the argument is not used any more. Kept for backwards compatibility.
  * @return boolean
  */
-function question_delete_activity($cm, $feedback=true) {
+function question_delete_activity($cm, $notused = false) {
     global $DB;
 
     $modcontext = context_module::instance($cm->id);
-    $feedbackdata = question_delete_context($modcontext->id, $feedback);
-    // Inform about changes performed if feedback is enabled.
-    if ($feedback && $feedbackdata) {
-        $table = new html_table();
-        $table->head = array(get_string('category', 'question'), get_string('action'));
-        $table->data = $feedbackdata;
-        echo html_writer::table($table);
-    }
+    question_delete_context($modcontext->id);
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/tests/questionlib_test.php b/lib/tests/questionlib_test.php
index 59a2bcbfc72..3b79c46dac7 100644
--- a/lib/tests/questionlib_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/questionlib_test.php
@@ -53,18 +53,6 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Return true and false to test functions with feedback on and off.
-     *
-     * @return array Test data
-     */
-    public function provider_feedback() {
-        return array(
-            'Feedback test' => array(true),
-            'No feedback test' => array(false)
-        );
-    }
-
     /**
      * Setup a course, a quiz, a question category and a question for testing.
      *
@@ -223,7 +211,7 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
             'contextid' => $questioncat2->contextid)));
 
         // Now we want to test deleting the course category and moving the questions to another category.
-        question_delete_course_category($coursecat1, $coursecat2, false);
+        question_delete_course_category($coursecat1, $coursecat2);
 
         // Test that all tag_instances belong to one context.
         $this->assertEquals(8, $DB->count_records('tag_instance', array('component' => 'core_question',
@@ -349,11 +337,8 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
 
     /**
      * This function tests the question_delete_activity function.
-     *
-     * @param bool $feedback Whether to return feedback
-     * @dataProvider provider_feedback
      */
-    public function test_question_delete_activity($feedback) {
+    public function test_question_delete_activity() {
         global $DB;
         $this->resetAfterTest(true);
         $this->setAdminUser();
@@ -361,11 +346,9 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         list($category, $course, $quiz, $qcat, $questions) = $this->setup_quiz_and_questions();
 
         $cm = get_coursemodule_from_instance('quiz', $quiz->id);
-        // Test that the feedback works.
-        if ($feedback) {
-            $this->expectOutputRegex('|'.get_string('unusedcategorydeleted', 'question').'|');
-        }
-        question_delete_activity($cm, $feedback);
+
+        // Test the deletion.
+        question_delete_activity($cm);
 
         // Verify category deleted.
         $criteria = array('id' => $qcat->id);
@@ -396,31 +379,20 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         // Verify questions deleted or moved.
         $criteria = array('category' => $qcat->id);
         $this->assertEquals(0, $DB->count_records('question', $criteria));
-
-        // Test that the feedback works.
-        $expected[] = array('top', get_string('unusedcategorydeleted', 'question'));
-        $expected[] = array($qcat->name, get_string('unusedcategorydeleted', 'question'));
-        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
     }
 
     /**
      * This function tests the question_delete_course function.
-     *
-     * @param bool $feedback Whether to return feedback
-     * @dataProvider provider_feedback
      */
-    public function test_question_delete_course($feedback) {
+    public function test_question_delete_course() {
         global $DB;
         $this->resetAfterTest(true);
         $this->setAdminUser();
 
         list($category, $course, $quiz, $qcat, $questions) = $this->setup_quiz_and_questions('course');
 
-        // Test that the feedback works.
-        if ($feedback) {
-            $this->expectOutputRegex('|'.get_string('unusedcategorydeleted', 'question').'|');
-        }
-        question_delete_course($course, $feedback);
+        // Test the deletion.
+        question_delete_course($course);
 
         // Verify category deleted.
         $criteria = array('id' => $qcat->id);
@@ -433,11 +405,8 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
 
     /**
      * This function tests the question_delete_course_category function.
-     *
-     * @param bool $feedback Whether to return feedback
-     * @dataProvider provider_feedback
      */
-    public function test_question_delete_course_category($feedback) {
+    public function test_question_delete_course_category() {
         global $DB;
         $this->resetAfterTest(true);
         $this->setAdminUser();
@@ -445,10 +414,7 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         list($category, $course, $quiz, $qcat, $questions) = $this->setup_quiz_and_questions('category');
 
         // Test that the feedback works.
-        if ($feedback) {
-            $this->expectOutputRegex('|'.get_string('unusedcategorydeleted', 'question').'|');
-        }
-        question_delete_course_category($category, 0, $feedback);
+        question_delete_course_category($category, null);
 
         // Verify category deleted.
         $criteria = array('id' => $qcat->id);
@@ -461,11 +427,8 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
 
     /**
      * This function tests the question_delete_course_category function when it is supposed to move question categories.
-     *
-     * @param bool $feedback Whether to return feedback
-     * @dataProvider provider_feedback
      */
-    public function test_question_delete_course_category_move_qcats($feedback) {
+    public function test_question_delete_course_category_move_qcats() {
         global $DB;
         $this->resetAfterTest(true);
         $this->setAdminUser();
@@ -476,26 +439,19 @@ class core_questionlib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $questionsinqcat1 = count($questions1);
         $questionsinqcat2 = count($questions2);
 
-        // Test that the feedback works.
-        if ($feedback) {
-            $a = new stdClass();
-            $a->oldplace = context::instance_by_id($qcat1->contextid)->get_context_name();
-            $a->newplace = context::instance_by_id($qcat2->contextid)->get_context_name();
-            $this->expectOutputRegex('|'.get_string('movedquestionsandcategories', 'question', $a).'|');
-        }
-        question_delete_course_category($category1, $category2, $feedback);
+        // Test the delete.
+        question_delete_course_category($category1, $category2);
 
         // Verify category not deleted.
         $criteria = array('id' => $qcat1->id);
         $this->assertEquals(1, $DB->count_records('question_categories', $criteria));
 
         // Verify questions are moved.
-        $criteria = array('category' => $qcat1->id);
         $params = array($qcat2->contextid);
         $actualquestionscount = $DB->count_records_sql("SELECT COUNT(*)
                                                           FROM {question} q
                                                           JOIN {question_categories} qc ON q.category = qc.id
-                                                         WHERE qc.contextid = ?", $params, $criteria);
+                                                         WHERE qc.contextid = ?", $params);
         $this->assertEquals($questionsinqcat1 + $questionsinqcat2, $actualquestionscount);
 
         // Verify there is just a single top-level category.
diff --git a/question/upgrade.txt b/question/upgrade.txt
index 00251c72a1f..6354f1ff602 100644
--- a/question/upgrade.txt
+++ b/question/upgrade.txt
@@ -2,12 +2,22 @@ This files describes API changes for code that uses the question API.
 
 === 3.9 ==
 
-For years, the ..._questions_in_use callback has been the right way for plugins to
-tell the core question system if questions are required. Previously this callback
-only worked in mods. Now it works in all plugins.
+1) For years, the ..._questions_in_use callback has been the right way for plugins to
+   tell the core question system if questions are required. Previously this callback
+   only worked in mods. Now it works in all plugins.
+
+   At the same time, if you are still relying on the legacy ..._question_list_instances
+   callback for this, you will now get a debugging warning telling you to upgrade.
+
+2) Previously, the functions question_delete_activity, question_delete_course and
+   question_delete_course_category would echo output. This was not correct behaviour for
+   a low-level API function. Now, they no longer output. Related to this, the helper
+   function they use, question_delete_context, now always returns an empty array.
+
+   This probably won't acutally cause you any problems. However, you may previously
+   have had to add expectOutputRegex calls to your unit tests to avoid warnings about
+   risky tests. If you have done that, those tests will now fail until you delete that expectation.
 
-At the same time, if you are still relying on the legacy ..._question_list_instances
-callback for this, you will now get a debugging warning telling you to upgrade.
 
 === 3.8 ===