# Course Materials as PDF: Workbooks, Cheat Sheets, and One-Pagers (Formats and When to Use Each)

> Workbooks, cheat sheets, and one-pagers as PDFs. When to use each format for your course materials.

Source: https://buildpdfs.com/guides/course-materials-pdf
Published: 2025-02-13

> **What course materials should be PDFs—and in what format?** **Workbook** — Multi-page, exercises and space to write. Use when they need to **do** and reflect (full course, cohort). **Cheat sheet** — 1–2 pages: key points, formulas, or checklist. Use when they need **quick reference** (during or after a module). **One-pager** — One page: framework, summary, or action list. Use when you want **takeaway** without exercises. All three can be PDFs. Pick by use: do = workbook; reference = cheat sheet; summary = one-pager.

Course materials aren't one size. Workbooks, cheat sheets, and one-pagers each have a job.

This guide is **when to use each** and what to put in them—with how they work together and what to do next. For building workbooks see [course workbook template](/guides/course-workbook-template) and [course workbooks that actually get used](/guides/course-workbooks-that-sell).

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## Formats at a glance

| Format | What it is | When to use | Typical length |
| ------ | ---------- | ----------- | -------------- |
| **Workbook** | Multi-page; exercises, space to write, reflection | They need to **do** and reflect (full course, cohort) | 20–50+ pages |
| **Cheat sheet** | 1–2 pages: key points, formulas, checklist | **Quick reference** during or after a module | 1–2 pages |
| **One-pager** | One page: framework, summary, or action list | **Takeaway** without exercises; keep or share | 1 page |

For workbook vs handout vs slide deck see [workbook vs handout vs slide deck](/guides/workbook-vs-handout-vs-slide-deck).

## Workbook (multi-page, do and reflect)

**What:** PDF with modules, exercises, space to write, reflection, action steps.

**When:** They're going through the course and need to **work** (exercises, prompts, checklists). Full course or cohort.

**Length:** Often 20–50+ pages. Depends on course.

**See:** [course workbook template](/guides/course-workbook-template), [course workbooks that actually get used](/guides/course-workbooks-that-sell), [course workbook examples by type](/guides/course-workbook-examples-by-type).

## Cheat sheet (1–2 pages, reference)

**What:** One or two pages: key points, formulas, checklist, or "how to" summary. No exercises; quick scan.

**When:** They need **reference** during or after the course. "What was that step?" "What's the formula?"

**Length:** 1–2 pages.

**Tips:** Dense but scannable. Headings, bullets, one idea per line. Same branding as the course.

## One-pager (1 page, summary or framework)

**What:** Single page: one framework, one process, or one action list. Takeaway, not workbook.

**When:** You want something they **keep** (on the wall, in a folder) or share. Summary of a module or the whole course.

**Length:** 1 page.

**Tips:** One big idea or one list. Visual hierarchy. No long paragraphs.

## How they work together

| Use | Format |
| --- | ------ |
| **Main "do" material** | Workbook. They work through it. |
| **Quick reference** | Cheat sheet per module or for the whole thing. |
| **Leave-behind or summary** | One-pager. Framework or next steps. |

You can offer all three: workbook for the course, cheat sheet per module or for the whole thing, one-pager as a leave-behind. For workbooks that get used see [course workbook that students actually use](/guides/course-workbook-students-use).

## Common mistakes

1. **Calling a one-pager a workbook.** If there's no exercises or space to write, it's a handout or cheat sheet. Name it right. See [workbook vs handout vs slide deck](/guides/workbook-vs-handout-vs-slide-deck).
2. **Cheat sheet that's 10 pages.** Then it's a guide. Keep cheat sheets to 1–2 pages.
3. **No PDF.** Only slides or only Notion. PDF is portable and easy to print. Offer at least the workbook (and optionally cheat sheet) as PDF. See [course workbooks that actually get used](/guides/course-workbooks-that-sell).

## Our recommendation

**Match the format to the use.** Do and reflect → workbook. Quick reference → cheat sheet. Summary or leave-behind → one-pager. You can combine (e.g. workbook + one cheat sheet for the whole course). For building the workbook see [course workbook template](/guides/course-workbook-template) and [course workbooks that actually get used](/guides/course-workbooks-that-sell). For the PDF see [best tool for eBooks and long-form PDFs](/guides/best-tool-for-ebooks-and-long-form-pdfs).

## What to do with this information

1. **Decide what you need** — Workbook (do), cheat sheet (reference), one-pager (summary)? Use the "Formats at a glance" table. See [workbook vs handout vs slide deck](/guides/workbook-vs-handout-vs-slide-deck).
2. **If workbook** — Use [course workbook template](/guides/course-workbook-template). For students to actually use it see [course workbook that students actually use](/guides/course-workbook-students-use).
3. **If cheat sheet** — 1–2 pages. Key points, formulas, or checklist. Scannable.
4. **If one-pager** — One framework or one list. Clear hierarchy.
5. **Build the PDF(s)** — Same tool can do workbook and shorter PDFs. See [best tool for eBooks and long-form PDFs](/guides/best-tool-for-ebooks-and-long-form-pdfs).

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*To create workbooks, cheat sheets, and one-pagers as PDFs, you can [try BuildPDFs](/dashboard). No commitment.*