Algebra Education for Secondary Students with Difficulties: A Review of the Literature From 2019 to 2023

Abstract Algebra education in secondary school is a prerequisite for further education; however, many students experience difficulties with algebra. This article focuses on students facing difficulties in algebra education and provides an overview of the research in this area. A scoping review based on a systematic literature search was conducted, which covered 73 papers published between 2019 and 2023. The reviewed articles were inductively categorized according to three objectives: the characteristics of participants, key topics of the studies, and main results. The findings show a variety of student characteristics and a range of interrelated key topics. The main results provide insights into diverse approaches, often used in combination with each other, and describe the group of low-performing students with their difficulties in detail. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.