It also separates helpful layout from clutter that hides the message.
What a leaflet or guide is
A leaflet or guide is a short, practical text that informs or persuades a general reader quickly. Examples are a health notice, a visitor guide, a safety leaflet or a how-to for newcomers.
In IGCSE English it appears as a directed-writing task. You get a purpose and an audience, and you write a text that a real person could pick up and use.
The key quality is that it is easy to read. People often read a leaflet in a hurry, standing up and half-distracted. It must give its message fast.
This makes the format harder than it looks. Many students think a short, simple text is easy. But writing clearly for a rushed reader, while staying organised and accurate, takes real skill. Markers reward it.
Purpose, layout and voice
The tone is direct and easy to read. Use plain sentences, with warmth where it fits, and keep your audience clear in your mind.
Decide whether the leaflet informs, persuades or does both. This choice shapes every other choice.
The layout helps the reader:
- A clear heading shows the subject.
- Sections with their own headings help readers find what they need.
- Short lists show steps or key facts at a glance.
Between the headings, the writing must still be accurate and controlled. A leaflet is not a set of fragments. Boards differ on what a task expects, so check our qualification pages.
A worked example, written by our teachers
This is our own original writing, made for teaching.
Staying Safe in the Sun: A Guide for New Hikers
Why this matters The heat in Malaysia is easy to underestimate. A shady morning trail can become fierce by midday. Hikers who start out feeling fine can end up tired and dizzy.
The trail was not too hard for them. The sun simply caught them unprepared.
Before you set off
- Carry more water than you think you need. You will be glad you did.
- Wear a hat with a brim and light, long sleeves. Sunburn is not a badge of honour.
- Tell someone your route and when you expect to return.
On the trail Rest in the shade before you feel tired, not after. Thirst is a late warning, not an early one.
The headings guide a rushed reader. The sentences are short and friendly.
The advice is easy to remember. Every line has a job, and nothing is only decoration.
If this is where marks are going missing, a trial hour with an experienced teacher can work on it one-to-one.
What a strong leaflet includes
- A clear heading that shows the subject and purpose.
- Helpful sections and, where useful, short lists.
- Plain, direct sentences for a rushed reader.
- A steady sense of who the audience is.
- Warmth or urgency that suits the purpose.
- Accuracy and control, even in simple style.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is clutter. There are so many headings, boxes and lists that the message disappears.
The second is the wrong tone: a formal essay when the task wants a friendly public notice, or the opposite. The third is vague advice that is too general to use, such as “be careful”.
The fourth is writing for the examiner instead of the reader. Ask yourself: would a real person find this useful? If not, cut it.
How this helps your other writing
A leaflet trains clarity, organisation and awareness of your audience. These improve reports, articles and every other format.
It also helps the summary task, where you must say a lot in few words. See our skills guides and grammar guides, and try our practice tasks.
Next steps
Compare your own leaflet with the annotated model responses, then try the practice tasks. Many leaflets also need to persuade, so read how to write a persuasive piece.
Students usually get stuck by adding too much. They put in every idea and the key message is lost.
In 1-to-1 lessons, our teachers ask the student to say the single main message in one sentence, then cut everything that does not support it. This is part of our First Language English tuition, from RM70/hr.
Bring a recent leaflet to a paid one-hour trial lesson, and the teacher who would continue will mark it with you.