In a process for preparing a high activity, large crystal ZSM-5 type zeolite in the absence of a template, a reaction mixture can be prepared comprising water, a silica source having a surface area less than 150 m2/g, an alumina source, seeds, a source of an oxide of an alkali metal, M, and a source of gluconic acid or salt thereof, Q, wherein the mixture has a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio≦40. The reaction mixture can be heated to a crystallization temperature from about 100° C. to 200° C. for a time sufficient for crystals of ZSM-5 to form Crystals of ZSM-5 can then be recovered from the reaction mixture which crystals can have a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio≦40 and a majority of which crystals can have at least one crystalline dimension of at least about 2 μm.