Do spelling, grammar or punctuation matter? In a word: `yes'. If you spell technical terms wrongly, your reader will wonder if you understand what you are writing about. If you spell everyday words wrongly, at best the appearance of your work will be marred; at worst you will not be writing the word you think you are writing, but some other word that may have a totally different meaning. Grammar and punctuation exist to give you the highest possible chance of conveying your precise meaning to the reader. For example, one comma can totally change the meaning of a sentence. If you want to be sure that your reader is decoding what you are trying to say in the way you intend, you need to achieve a basic grasp of spelling, sentence structure and punctuation (see Section 8).
Dyslexic? Do not fear. If nothing else, you may already be more aware of the issues than someone who is simply a sloppy speller. Beyond that, word-processing can help you to produce work that is relatively easy to correct in the light of other students' reading of it, and there are computer spelling checkers designed specifically for you. Consult your Sub-Dean about getting an assessment. Depending on the outcome, you will be able to find out about assistance available, and, if appropriate, about examination arrangements.