Are entry option codes the same each series?

Please be aware that both the option codes and component variants allocated for a specific administrative zone can vary from series to series and from syllabus to syllabus. 

So, for example, whilst you may have candidates sitting component 21 for a particular syllabus one series, the equivalent paper of the same syllabus might be component 22 in a subsequent series; similarly one syllabus might have variants all ending in a 1 in a series, whereas another syllabus in the same series might include variants that all end in 2 or 3. 

Equally a combination of components may be represented by one option code in a series, but the same combination uses a different option code in a subsequent series. For option codes composed of two letters (which represents the majority of option codes) it will be the second letter that might change from one series to the next - the first letter will remain constant as a rule, so this will give you an indication of which options correspond with each other across multiple series.

None of this makes any material difference to candidates when they are sitting exams, but it does highlight the importance of making reference every series to the Guide to Making Entries and/or timetable for your zone to confirm the appropriate option code and variant for each syllabus for the specific series in question. The exam materials we send you will always match the corresponding variant details in your zone's Guide to Making Entries and timetable for that series.